If you are injured in Tampa and are thinking about filing a personal injury claim against an individual or entity who was liable for your injuries, you should know what steps to take. A personal injury case can include several stages, and you’ll need a qualified car accident lawyer to help you understand what to do next. Here are some crucial points to keep in mind.

What To Do Right After the Accident

Right away, you should evaluate your injuries and assess anyone else in the car who is injured or needs immediate medical care. If you don’t have serious injuries, get as many details as you can about the accident scene. Take pictures and if there are witnesses, ask them to remain at the scene until the police arrive.

You should file a written report with the police after a car accident. You should also request a copy of this report to keep it on file and submit it to your attorney to use as evidence.

Go to a Doctor

You should schedule follow-up treatment with your doctor as soon as possible after an accident. You may not feel pain right away and can sometimes notice joint or muscle pain a few days after the incident.

Your doctor should know about any pain or health conditions you’ve experienced since the collision, even if you’re not in extreme pain. If your primary care physician gives you any referrals, be sure to get in touch with the specialty doctor you’re referred to and be consistent with your appointments.

Your medical records will be used as evidence that you needed treatment for the injuries you sustained after the accident.

Hire an Attorney

If you’re involved in a car accident, a Tampa auto accident lawyer can help you build a strong case. You need an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that you receive a settlement that is fair and adequate.

The lawyer will evaluate your case to see whether you need to receive compensation for damages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, lost wages, or a combination of these.

Most of the time, you’ll be able to get a free consultation from a lawyer. Be sure to ask any questions and find out about the attorney’s past experiences. Choose a lawyer familiar with accidents in Tampa; this could help your attorney make a stronger case for you.

Negotiate Your Settlement

Before you file a lawsuit, your lawyer may try to negotiate a settlement for you. You may be asked to sign release forms to settle your case. However, you shouldn’t do this until you know how severe your injuries and losses are. Once you sign the documents, you may be prevented from making additional claims against the liable party.

The compensation you’ll receive will depend on several factors, including whether or not you have a permanent injury and if you suffered financial damages. Your settlement amount will also reflect whether you’re partially liable for the accident.

File a Lawsuit

Somes, your lawyer may need to file a lawsuit against the people responsible for your accident if settlement negotiations don’t go as planned. Once the lawsuit is filed, all the defendants must be notified and receive a summons for court.

It is important to be aware of the statute of limitations in Florida when you’re filing a lawsuit. Work with your attorney to make sure all necessary paperwork for your case is filed promptly so you’ll have a chance at receiving fair compensation.

The Bottom Line

Your attorney will gather all the necessary evidence to present in court or represent you if you decide to settle your case without going before a huge. Once you and your family get the compensation you deserve for lost wages and medical bills, you can recover some of the damages from the accident and get back to doing the things you love.

Author:

With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. He decided to help people by “translating” the language and offering information and advice in a clear, useful, and actionable manner. For this reason, instead of finding him in court, you will most likely find his name online, where he is very active and thriving as a legal columnist. His part of making the world a better place is to make the law a less convoluted maze. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters, and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights.