The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to get together with friends and family for a barbeque and fireworks.
Unfortunately, this holiday is often interrupted as Floridians make their way back home. Fourth of July is notorious for high rates of car accidents, including fatal car accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that an average of 118 motor vehicle accident deaths happen each year on the Fourth of July.
This statistic doesn’t even address the number of serious injuries that occur due to the Fourth of July-related car crashes.
Were you hurt by a negligent driver on the Fourth of July? If you have suffered injuries or damage to your car after a motor vehicle accident, you may already see bills and charges coming in. Luckily, you can file a claim to receive compensation for your injuries from your insurance company and the driver that caused these expenses.
Take the following steps to ensure that you remain healthy and receive compensation after an accident.
(Note: Some of these tasks are bound by deadlines, so be prompt when you are addressing your injuries. The sooner you reach out to a lawyer and file a claim, the sooner you will be able to receive appropriate compensation.)
Seek Medical Attention
Florida has specific guidelines for how victims of motor accidents should address their injuries. If the damage from an accident exceeds $500, Florida law suggests immediately reaching out to law enforcement and then seeking assistance for medical injuries.
If you haven’t gone to a hospital or medical professional for your injuries yet, it’s time to make an appointment. Hospital visits can be expensive, but these may be reimbursed after a civil case. Moreover, waiting too long to seek medical attention will only lead to further issues.
First, because many injuries aren’t readily apparent in the immediate aftermath of a crash, delaying could increase the amount of issues doctors have to address, spiking the costs of your visit. Even worse, Florida only gives you a limited window in which to see a doctor after a crash and still qualify to file a personal injury suit.
Record Expenses
You will need to keep track of your expenses and lost income, starting from the moment you were injured.
Are you taking time off of work to recover from your injuries? Document this. Are you taking a bus to work or renting a car because your vehicle is still in the shop? Document this. Have you had to pay for any prescription medications that directly relate to the accident? Document this.
All of this information will be helpful when you head to court and ask for compensation.
File a Claim with Your Insurance Company
Florida has a “no-fault” insurance policy that allows victims to claim up to $10,000 worth of damages after a car accident. Insurance companies cannot deny this claim due to the fault of the driver, so you should file immediately.
Reach Out to a Personal Injury Lawyer
What happens after that $10,000?
If you suffer serious injury and your expenses exceed $10,000, you can file a personal injury claim against any party you believe engaged in negligence that led to your accident. Typically this will mean the other driver, but not always.
Most likely, the defendant will try to turn the blame around on you to reduce your claim. They may argue that you weren’t wearing your seatbelt, that you didn’t seek medical attention fast enough for the injuries to be related to the accident, and so on.
A knowledgeable Florida personal injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you need while helping you defend against any accusations that might get in the way of winning your claim.
Want to learn more about your options, and what you can do to get the compensation you need after a car accident? Contact a Florida personal injury lawyer today.
About the Author: Since 1994, seasoned litigation and trial lawyer Anthony B. White has helped thousands of accident victims seek damages due to injuries sustained as a result of another party’s negligence. Included in America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals and selected to the 2012, 2013, and 2014 editions of Florida Super Lawyers, Mr. White specializes in car accidents, insurance disputes, wrongful death, product liability, and medical malpractice cases. He is a longstanding member of the Florida Justice Association and the American Association for Justice and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Broward County Justice Association.