Last Updated on March 5, 2023 by Georgia Anne
Car accidents happen daily, meaning you can fall victim and experience a personal injury anytime. Suppose you get injured, your car gets damaged, or you suffer stress from an accident in Florida; file for a personal injury claim.
You may need to seek legal guidance from Bengal Law, experienced in car accident cases in Orlando, to help you navigate the process. While providing a statement of the accident, you need to know how to get the best compensation for your car accident injury by giving every nitty-gritty detail you can recall.
What to Do After a Car Accident
After an accident, you may want to file a personal injury claim. But before you do it, everything that follows matters greatly if you’re looking for a settlement. You need to understand the aspects of the accident and injury that can work to your advantage. Gather the relevant information after the accident, take pictures of the scene, the names of anyone else involved, and witnesses, if any.
Exchange your driver’s incense details and car insurance with the other driver. Also, take the law enforcement officer’s badge details who show up at the accident scene. This is to ensure you also get a copy of the official police report regarding the accident. Make sure the images you capture at the scene of the accident include the following;
- The exact location of the vehicles at the accident scene
- Areas of damage on both vehicles
- License plates of the car or vehicles
- Vehicle debris or evidence on the ground, including skid marks
- Traffic lights and road signs, if any
- Anything else that can help to explain how the crash occurred
Tips to Maximize Compensation in a Personal Injury Case
After collecting and securing relevant information from the accident scene and the people involved, here are more tips for ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve.
Provide Every Detail, Leaving Nothing Out
Be thorough in your investigation regarding the accident, and don’t stop recording what you and the other party experienced. Collect witnesses’ statements to help prove how the accident happened. Provide all paperwork related to the incident, including police and medical reports, for your defense with the help of a personal injury lawyer. Bear in mind that the other party will also be working hard to prepare a thorough defense to prove their side of the story is correct. The jury will depend on evidence from both sides to determine the case.
Get Medical Treatment for Injuries
If you aren’t sure about the extent of your injuries, see a doctor, follow the treatment plan they recommend, and keep all records safely. Seeking treatment is essential to help assess the damage to your car and injuries. Produce these records to your attorney, as they’ll analyze and help you understand your legal options.
Value Your Claim
You need to preserve the evidence because the jury will determine your injury case by comparing evidence from the people involved in the accident. This means the more evidence you hold, the better your chances in court.
Prioritize Your Mental Health
Physical examinations shouldn’t be the only check-up you get, as you might also have emotional trauma. If you keep getting flashbacks of the incident or an increase in anxiety levels, ensure that you get treatment for emotional distress. And as you go through these treatments, all records should be kept and availed to your lawyer.
File Your Case Promptly
After the accident don’t wait too long to file a claim after the accident, as this can be a crucial step in preserving the evidence. If you have injuries, you don’t have to do too much convincing of the jury, as they can see.
Be Patient, and Don’t be in a Hurry
For you to get maximum compensation, it may take time. If you’re the kind who loves to settle issues fast, this might not be the time or place for rushing because you may get a settlement way less than you deserve. If they make an offer, ensure it matches your minimum or maximum amount per the treatment records, car damages, and injuries. Don’t attend negotiations alone, but with your lawyer, or let them represent you.
Keep Off Social Media
Making social media posts that don’t correspond to the injuries you claim to have could ruin your case. Don’t post any updates concerning what’s happening in court to avoid misleading the public and creating a wrong opinion.
Don’t Let the Opponent Access Your Records
Keep all the records related to the case only to you and your attorney. It’s not uncommon for the opposing team to try to access them, but let them go through your lawyer before you can release anything. Your opponent doesn’t need your medical report, as they can use it to bolster their case against you if they get a hold of them. However, you can provide the insurance company with your medical report, not your opponent’s company.