If you attended a driver’s education class in high school, you probably remember that you are always supposed to call the police and wait for an officer to arrive when you have a car accident with injuries. Florida law requires you to carry insurance, so if you are injured in an accident you would call your insurance company and a lawyer. But what do you do if it is just a fender bender? Is it worth it to call an attorney if there are no injuries and the damages are under $500? There are a few things you should do before deciding whether or not to call a personal injury law firm.
What to do After an Accident
If you have had an accident with no injuries and nominal damage to your car, you are still supposed to call the police to report the incident. They generally will not come to the scene in such a case. You and the other driver can simply exchange contact and insurance information. You should also get the other driver’s license plate number.
Many people choose not to call their insurance company after a minor accident, for fear that their insurance premiums will go up. They will often try to work out a deal for payment with the other driver. Most lawyers will tell you that working out a deal for payment with another driver is not advisable. Although you may think there were no injuries as a result of the accident, not all injuries are immediately apparent. Issues such as concussions can come up weeks after a crash.
You have 10 days to report the accident to your insurance company in the state of Florida. You should read your insurance policy carefully to see if they require you to report minor accidents to them. If you do not report the accident to them, it may cause problems for you in the future.
You may want to consult with an attorney before calling your insurance company.
If you have already made an agreement with another driver to take care of the bills yourself, you may end up needing a lawyer. If the at-fault driver refuses to pay what they told you they would, or if injuries reveal themselves, later on, you may need to settle matters in court.
What was the Value of Your Car before the Accident?
If you do file a claim on a fender bender, there is a chance that your insurance company may try to pay you less than you are actually owed. If you have a new car, even a fender bender can mean an expensive repair. It may be a good idea to hire an attorney who can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
Finding a Lawyer
If you do decide to hire an attorney, make sure to find one who is well-versed in Florida law and has years of experience negotiating with insurance companies. A good law firm will be staffed with legal assistants who will do the necessary research to get you a fair settlement. You can click on this website for a free consultation attorneychappell.com.
Authoritative Sources:
https://thelawdictionary.org/fender-bender/
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