Imagine this: you are in your car with your family heading to the South Beach Park, Boca Raton when suddenly another driver crashes into your vehicle from behind. You will feel panicked, shaken, and even a bit disoriented. However, it is important that you conduct yourself after the collision. This is because a potential personal injury claim begins at the moment you’re involved in an accident. Florida is a no-fault state which means that the insurance policy of each driver will pay for their injuries resulting from a car accident. However, there are special circumstances when you can file a personal injury claim against the person or party responsible for the accident and get compensated for your injuries.
Therefore, you should avoid making any mistake that can affect your chances of getting compensated. We will share a few pitfalls that can kill your Boca Raton personal injury case to help you avoid them.
Admitting Fault
Immediately after a car accident, many people are in shock and aren’t sure of what they must do. Although it’s important that you exchange insurance with other drivers after the crash, you should not make the mistake of admitting fault or even partial fault to the police officer or the other driver. If you admit your fault at the accident scene, it will be used against you in the court.
Leaving Out Your Symptoms and Injuries
Police officers and paramedics will likely arrive on the scene if the accident is serious. When a paramedic or police officer is investigating the case and asks you how you’re are feeling or if you have suffered any injury, be complete and accurate and include all your present complaints, symptoms and known injuries. The severity of your injury plays a critical role, especially in a no-fault state like Florida. You can only file a personal injury claim if you suffered a ‘serious injury’ and there are specific guidelines as to what classifies as a ‘serious injury’. The police will likely include your response in their report which is why it is important that the information you provide is accurate.
Not Seeking Follow-Up Treatment
Following a car accident, you might try to get home as soon as you can – especially if there isn’t any immediate onset of injury or pain. However, symptoms, pain, and injury oftentimes don’t manifest themselves immediately after a collision. Therefore, it is important that you seek follow-up treatment at an urgent care facility or hospital after the accident. If you fail to do so, the defending party may claim that your injuries weren’t serious and thus the personal injury claim isn’t valid.
Not Following the Doctor’s Treatment Recommendations
When you are discharged from the urgent care facility or emergency room, the physician will make some recommendations for a follow-up appointment or future treatment. The recommendations may include following up with a specialist, especially if the injury is serious. It is important for you to follow through with the recommendations of the physician. If you fail to do so, your personal injury claim will have a major impact – the defending attorney may use this as evidence to establish that your injury was not a serious one.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, if you want to increase your chances of getting compensated for your damages through a Boca Raton personal injury claim, avoid the pitfalls we have discussed above. If you aren’t sure about how to proceed with a personal injury claim after a Boca Raton accident, contact a Shiner Law Group’s experienced Boca Raton personal injury lawyer. We will help you determine whether you have a valid personal injury claim and if you do, we’ll collect the required evidence and represent you at the court.
