When you have been in a car wreck, it can be devastating. You may suffer serious injuries as well as damages. Your car accident injuries might cause you to lose time at work and you may require expensive medical treatment. The silver lining is, if you were involved in a car accident in Orange Park, you might be entitled to compensation for your medical care and other damages. That is why it’s helpful to seek guidance from an Orange Park car accident lawyer.
Understanding Comparative Fault in a Car Wreck
Florida has no-fault liability in place for car accidents. This means that it is easier to receive compensation for your injuries. However, the system makes it harder to obtain money beyond a preset determination. The issue of which driver was at fault will still come into play, especially if you seek legal action.
After a car wreck in Orange Park, you need to determine which driver, or drivers, were responsible. Florida utilizes the comparative fault rule. Florida comparative fault law allows for drivers who were involved in accidents to be entitled to compensation, even if they were partly at fault. A review of the accident determines how the accident occurred and ascribes a percentage of fault to each driver.
Negligence in a Florida Car Wreck
To recover damages in a car accident, you must be able to prove that the other driver was negligent. The other driver or drivers had to do something wrong that caused or contributed to the crash. For example, if the other driver was speeding, he was likely negligent because he should know that driving over the speed limit is dangerous and might cause a crash with injuries.
A Florida car accident lawyer will review the details of your case and assist in gathering the information necessary to prove negligence. This can be established in a number of ways, such as police or accident reports, eyewitness testimony, and surveillance video or accident reconstruction. Your lawyer helps protect your rights to ensure that you obtain the money you need to cover medical costs and property damage repair after the collision.
Get Medical Treatment After a Florida Car Accident
Although you might not feel injured immediately following a collision, you should get medical treatment anyway. Some injuries may not feel severe at first, but could worsen over the next few hours or days. It is best to visit the emergency room or your own doctor as soon after the crash as possible. Be sure to let the medical team know that your injuries were sustained during a car crash.
Keep records of any related medical treatment, including statements from your doctor that describe your injuries. Medical records might become extremely important later if you need to prove your injuries. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may have to receive treatment for a long period of time. As time passes, you may forget some important details. Therefore, a notebook with information is helpful should you need to pursue the case with an Orange Park car wreck lawyer. Remember that you might be owed money for all of your current medical costs as well as any future expenses that you might incur because of the injury.
Talk to the Insurance Company About Your Car Accident
There are some important considerations to think about before you talk to the insurance company. First and foremost, do not admit guilt for the accident. Insurance companies are often trying to resolve the claim as quickly and as inexpensively as possible. The representative may ask you to make a statement regarding what happened. Before you do so, it may be best to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer.
The company might offer you a settlement soon after the accident. If you accept the settlement, you might be giving up your right to take legal action in the case. All too often, the amount of money the insurance company initially offers is less than the amount that you will need to pay for any current and future medical bills.
You have the right to dispute the amount that is offered in a settlement. You do not have to agree to the money they offer, especially if it is not enough to adequately pay for your medical expenses and damages.
Seek Help from a Middleburg Car Wreck Lawyer
A skilled Florida car accident lawyer will help protect your rights after a car wreck. Your lawyer will answer any questions you might have and will guide the process so you don’t have to feel stressed. You and your family have enough to worry about with medical care and other issues immediately after a collision. While you focus on your recovery, your lawyer reviews all the details of the crash and can help gather documentation, the proof of negligence, and works with insurance companies to obtain a fair settlement.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in an auto accident, do not wait. Call John Fagan Accident Lawyers to protect your rights today.
