Tampa Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyer | Your Guide to Filing a Personal Injury Claim

Imagine this: you are out running errands and suddenly, you get rear-ended by another vehicle. Do you know what to do in order to file a personal injury claim and hold the at-fault party accountable? Knowing how to handle an insurance claim or lawsuit on your own can be confusing and upsetting. Inkelaar Law, a car accident personal injury lawyer in Tampa, will help you understand the step-by-step process of filing a personal injury claim and handling the aftermath of any car or truck accident.

 

The Day of: Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Tampa Immediately After a Car Accident

Immediately after you have been involved in any type of accident, as long as you are in a safe place and are not injured, you can contact a Tampa personal injury attorney. A few other steps to take the day of the accident include:

• Seek medical attention: it is important to seek medical attention if necessary. If you don’t require immediate medical attention, discuss with your attorney how long you have to seek treatment should injuries develop later.
• Gather information from the scene of the accident: Take photos, exchange insurance information, and file a police report.
• Obtain business and driver information if a commercial truck is involved: If you were involved in an accident with a commercial truck, it is important to write down the name of the business in addition to the driver’s information. Sometimes, a portion of the truck is owned by the driver and the trailer and contents are owned by another company, while a third company employs the driver. You don’t need to worry about sorting out who is liable, but obtaining as much information about the business and truck owner is helpful later on.

 

What to Do in the Days Following an Accident

In the days following an accident, you might begin to feel pain from your injuries. For example, you might not have noticed at the scene of the accident that you had whiplash because your adrenaline was high. It is important to remember that in the State of Florida you must seek medical attention within 14 days after a car accident. Failure to do so may result in your PIP insurance denying any potential claim. If you need to seek medical attention after an accident, make sure to keep any medical records and document which doctors you have seen.

Make sure to tell the doctors to document how you are feeling, even if you feel like the pain isn’t that significant. It might get worse over time, and having it documented will be important if it does.

If you haven’t already, contact a personal injury attorney after a car accident in Tampa. An attorney with Inkelaar Law can help you contact the insurance company and discuss what to expect in the coming weeks and months.

It is important to remember, there is plenty of time after an accident to gather your thoughts and discuss your rights with an attorney. The insurance companies may contact you for a statement but you have the right to take time to speak with an attorney and write down every detail you remember so that it may be included in your statement.

 

The Next Steps in a Personal Injury Claim After an Accident

After your personal injury claim has been filed, your attorney will discuss settlement negotiations with the other party. Sometimes, the insurance company is willing to settle before a lawsuit is ever filed, while other times, your legal counsel must file a lawsuit claim. Each situation is unique and what may be quickly negotiated for one person might result in a trial or appeal for another. A car accident personal injury lawyer in Tampa with Inkelaar Law can help you understand your options and your rights.

If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, please give us a call for free consultation at (813) 722-0622, or submit our consultation request form.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.