Top 5 Mistakes To Avoid After A Car Accident In Florida
Car AccidentsIn this article, you will learn:
- Why it is a mistake to admit fault at the scene.
- How posting about social media can hurt your claim.
- Consequences of settling too early with the insurance company.
Why Is It A Mistake To Admit Fault At The Accident Scene?
The accident scene sets the stage for the beginning of your personal injury claim. It is a critical time and one that is filled with adrenaline and shock. Therefore, it is easy to make mistakes such as admitting fault.
If you have admitted fault, you may be doing so unnecessarily, which could jeopardize your case. Some people feel guilty after an accident, and they will admit fault when they really are not at fault or may only be partially at fault.
Admitting responsibility at the scene of an accident is a huge misstep, as you don’t know what the other person’s story is. The correct approach is to simply tell the police officer your version of events as you remember them and then let the police complete the accident report.
How Can Posting About The Accident On Social Media Hurt My Claim?
Social media has become a massive part of our lives, so much so that most people use it to document their day-to-day activities. If you’re an avid social media user, you may be pushed to share your condition and progress during and after the accident. But this may not be the best move.
After an accident, you should avoid making public and private posts about the event and your condition, as you do not yet know how your injury or case will progress.
For instance, when you decide to make a post, the insurance company may have denied your claim, and you may be upset. However, they could later change their position and approve your claim, but you have already made an angry post that others are seeing. You can do similar damage to your case by posting about your injuries.
For example, you may feel at the beginning of your case that you are going to make a full recovery and then make posts that imply that you will be fine when, in fact, later on down the road, you are going to need injections or surgery. These posts can create unnecessary contradictions in your case. It is best to simply avoid posting anything related to your accident or your injury.
How Can Settling Too Early With The Insurance Company Lead To Problems?
After your accident, you may experience intense financial strain. When the insurance company comes with an offer, you may be inclined to settle to ensure you get some money to take care of your medical bills and living expenses. However, the insurance company knows this as well, and this is why they might pressure you to settle early before you become aware of your compensation.
After settling your case, you cannot re-open it and ask for more money. When you settle your case, you are required to sign a release of liability for the other party. That release discharges any further responsibility for the other party forever.
Therefore, when you settle your case too early, you have not given yourself enough time to obtain all of the medical treatment that you are going to need, and you are cutting off your case prematurely. Before settling your case, the best advice is to get all of the medical treatment that you need and consult a personal injury on the value of your claim.
How Can Failing To Follow My Doctor’s Treatment Plan Negatively Affect My Claim?
When a doctor makes a recommendation for you, it is usually best advised to follow that recommendation. Failure to do so gives the insurance company a defense that there was more that you could have done to lessen or reduce your injury. However, exceptions exist.
For example, if you are recommended for major spinal surgery, you may not be able to receive the surgery due to limited insurance, or you may have a general concern about getting such a major surgery as a patient. An experienced personal injury attorney can help determine the possible impact of medical treatment on the value of your case. Your attorney will also review any decisions you make that deviate from your treatment plan and ensure they don’t affect your claim.
Why Might It Be A Mistake To Not Take Photos Of The Accident Scene?
It might not occur to you to take photos of the scene amidst the pain and adrenaline rush. But if you do take some photos, they could change the course of your accident claim significantly. When you are at the accident scene, you should take as many photos as you can of the vehicles, the roadway, and the landscape as possible.
You do not know what might become important later on in your case. I have had a number of cases where a piece of debris or tire mark that was inadvertently caught in a photograph played a significant role later on in the case. When you are at the scene of an accident that has just happened, you never know what will become important later, so take as many photos as safely possible.
Aside From The Ones Listed, What Are The Most Common Mistakes People Make After Being In A Car Accident?
It is a mistake to think that your injuries are not significant just because you are not in terrible pain. As a personal injury attorney, I have noticed that a significant number of people downplay their injuries until they get an MRI, which shows them objective evidence that they have an injury.
Your MRI can easily show bulging or herniated discs that may become problems in the months or years to come. Without the benefit of an MRI, you do not have an adequate picture of what is actually happening inside your body.
Another mistake people make is failing to call the police and file a police report. The police often want you to exchange information and will then file their police report through the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within the next ten days.
If you cannot get the police to write a report, then you have no choice but to file your own report within ten days of the accident. However, it is best to get the police to write this report and weigh in on who is responsible.
Yet another common mistake victims make is delaying medical treatment. While I cannot recommend that everyone go to the emergency room after an accident, cases where the injured person experiences immediate pain and goes to the ER generally have more credibility than cases where the injured person waits a week or two before getting treatment.
Additionally, delaying treatment in Florida more than 14 days after the date of the accident will also mean that your insurance company does not have to pay medical bills.
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