How Can You Increase Your Florida Personal Injury Settlement?
If you sustained injuries in a Florida accident, you might be eligible to recover compensation from the negligent party. Recovering a full and fair settlement in a Florida personal injury claim can offer you immense financial and emotional relief.
After suffering injuries in a Florida accident because of another person’s fault, you must do everything possible to ensure you maximize your claim’s value. The following are some of the ways you can increase your Florida’s personal injury settlement:
Gather and Preserve Evidence
Generally, if there is no evidence, there is no claim. And the more evidence you have, the better. So, you should take pictures and videos of the accident scene as soon as possible after your accident and collect witnesses’ statements or contact information. You should also keep all the copies of your medical bills, the receipts you incur, including those for property repair costs, and invoices.
Seek Prompt Medical Treatment
If you wait to seek medical attention after your accident, the other side will use your delay against you. For instance, the defense side might claim that another incident caused your injuries. They might also claim that your injuries were not as severe as you claimed or you intentionally let your condition deteriorate.
Hire an Attorney
Although it might seem biased, the reality is that you stand to get more compensation if you hire a personal injury attorney to help you with your case. Attorneys understand the system and know what they need to do to ensure their clients recover the maximum possible amount of compensation.
File Your Claim as Soon as Possible
You typically have 4 years to file a personal injury claim in the state of Florida. If you file a personal injury claim after four years have passed, you will not be able to obtain the compensation you deserve.
File a Claim With Both Insurance Companies
If you were in an accident with a driver with insufficient insurance and have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, ensure you file one claim with your insurance company and another with the other driver’s insurance company.
Avoid Settling Quickly
After you file your injury claim, the at-fault party’s insurance company will try and get you to accept a settlement quickly. To maximize the value of your claim, avoid accepting a quick settlement offer from the insurance company. Usually, the first settlement offer from an insurance company is not what a plaintiff deserves. If you accept the first offer from the at-fault party’s insurance company, you can be sure that you’re leaving a lot of money on the table.
Include Past, Present, and Future Damages
To increase your personal injury settlement, ensure you include your past damages like medical expenses you have already incurred and ongoing damages such as lost wages. Also, include your future losses, such as future medical expenses. Often, people forget to include future damages in their personal injury claims.
Legal Help Is Available
If you need help recovering the maximum possible amount of compensation in your Florida personal injury case, contact our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the West Palm Beach, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, Orlando, and Ocala areas.
Source:
flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2018/95.11