If someone rear-ends you, you should notify your insurance provider. That’s because Florida’s a no-fault insurance state. After being involved in a collision, you file a claim with your own insurance provider to seek damages, even if you didn’t cause the accident.
However, even though you’re notifying your own insurance carrier, recovering compensation can still be difficult. The insurance company may deny your claim or offer less than you deserve. This is where partnering with a lawyer can benefit you. They can manage everything the claims process requires.
What Compensation Can You Recover Through an Insurance Claim?
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation notes that all Florida drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. You must have at least $10,000 in immediate medical coverage. However, your PIP policy might cover more, depending on what plan you purchased.
If your damages exceed your PIP policy’s limits, you can file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. Again, this can come with challenges––all of which our injury firm can handle.
When you partner with a lawyer, they can determine whether you’re eligible to receive:
- Healthcare expenses
- Lost income, tips, and bonuses
- Pain and suffering and inconvenience
- Property damage expenses
- Childcare costs
- Funeral fees
- Various out-of-pocket damages
What Should You Do After a Car Accident Occurs?
Many things happen after a car accident, and you may need clarification about what to do next. In addition to notifying your insurance company after being rear-ended, you should:
Report the Collision to the Authorities
If you called the police to the accident scene, the attending officer likely filed an accident report listing important details about your collision. If not, however, you generally have 10 days to report the incident to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles.
This is more than following post-accident procedure. Notifying law enforcement creates a record of your collision, which can serve as valuable evidence later on.
File Your Insurance Claim Within an Appropriate Timeframe
Your insurance provider wants to know about your claim as soon as possible. These deadlines vary based on when your accident happened, the nature of your condition, and the insurance provider itself.
You don’t want to miss the filing period for your rear-end collision claim. If you do, you could lose the right to seek compensation for your various injury-related hardships.
Avoid Being Too Friendly with Insurance Adjusters
When providing information to the insurance company, please don’t be too friendly with its adjusters. Some insurance adjusters want you to feel at ease so they can take advantage of you. If possible, allow all communications to the insurance company to pass through your lawyer.
Also, be careful not to sign any documents about your accident without knowing what they mean. You don’t want to accidentally accept less money than you deserve or unknowingly release the insurer from liability.
Enlist the Services of a Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury lawyer will handle all negotiations with the insurance provider. For many cases, having representation “levels” the playing field between the injured claimant and the insurance provider.
A Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer can negotiate a settlement by:
- Estimating the value of your claim based on your injuries and losses
- Offering professional advice throughout the claims process
- Proving liability by collecting and presenting sufficient evidence ng
- Filing a court case on your behalf if negotiations do not succeed
You can trust your lawyer to do everything possible to recover what you need from the liable insurance provider. They can even explain other measures to support your case after a rear-end collision.
Does It Matter What Collision You Got Into?
You should notify your insurance carrier after any collision–whether a rear-end accident, head-on crash, or another accident. Even if you don’t think you’re injured, you should still notify your insurance company.
For instance, if you suffered a “hidden injury” (like a traumatic brain injury), you might not experience symptoms right away. You want to build the strongest possible case to recover damages if you need medical attention later on.
Also, Florida Statutes § 316.066 says that for certain collisions, you must notify law enforcement. This applies to accidents resulting in injuries, excessive property damage, and fatalities.
Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine to Learn More
Being involved in a car accident can be a frightening and overwhelming experience. As such, it might be challenging to remember what actions to take after an accident. In addition to calling your own insurance after a rear-end accident, you should also consider the benefits of partnering with a lawyer.
If you were in a Florida car accident and want to recover compensation for your injury-related losses, the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine provides legal aid. We can notify your insurance company, determine your accident’s cause, and negotiate for what you need.
To begin your free case review, dial 1-800-747-3733.
