What To Do After A Car Accident
An experienced Orlando lawyer who can guide you through the process
Things can get pretty hectic and confusing after you’ve been in a car accident. You need medical treatment for your injuries. You may need to miss time from work. Then you need to sort things out with the insurance company. You may not know what to do next. The Cerasa Law Firm LLC can help.
Attorney Michael Cerasa understands the impact a car accident can have on your life. He works with you to get your life back on track and ensures that the insurance companies treat you fairly. He’s ready to guide you through legal process every step of the way.
Immediately after the accident
After an accident it can be difficult to think clearly and make good decisions as emotions are running high. It is crucial to try to stay calm. Contact the police or other law enforcement. Do not admit fault or assign fault to the other driver. Stay polite and courteous. Give the police the most accurate information you can provide.
Do I need to file a police report after an accident?
For accidents involving injury, death or damage greater than $500 (almost any accident outside of a very minor fender bender will have damage greater than $500) a police officer will need to submit a report and should be called right away. For very minor accidents or where no police investigation was conducted the driver must file a report within 10 days.
If someone is injured in the accident, who is responsible?
Florida has adopted a no-fault policy to settle smaller auto accident claims (involving less than $10,000 in property damage and less than $10,000 in personal injury) as efficiently as possible. If the accident involves damages greater than the no-fault policy limits, you will have to pursue compensation through the at-fault driver's auto insurance policy.
The relationship between who was at fault in an auto accident, who will pay for the medical bills and property damage, and how much each driver's insurance policy will pay are very complex. An experienced attorney can review the details of your accident and give you an idea of how Florida law applies to your case, and your options for pursuing compensation.
Will I need to go to court?
The overwhelming majority of auto accident cases do NOT end up in court. Instead, a settlement is reached between the injured party and the insurance company (or companies) found responsible to pay. While your case will likely not end up in court, there is still a fair amount of investigation, documentation and negotiating that will affect how your claim turns out. The insurance companies will have a team of lawyers working to protect their profits, and it's a good idea to have a lawyer on your side to protect your rights.
How will the amount of my settlement be determined?
There are several factors that can affect the amount of an insurance settlement from an injury sustained in an auto accident. Some of them include:
- The severity of the injuries sustained from the crash
- The costs of past and future medical expenses
- Who was at fault in the accident
- The type of insurance coverage both parties had at the time of the accident
- The evidence and documentation (pictures, police reports, medical reports, etc.) that each driver can provide to support their case
In addition to the factors listed above, the experience and familiarity your attorney has with settling auto claims can have a major impact. Every case has an acceptable range, having an experienced lawyer on your side helps ensure that you receive the top end of the range instead of the bare minimum that the insurance company can settle for without legal repercussions.
Take steps to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us to schedule a free consultation. We can help you understand how Florida law applies to your case, and your options for moving forward. If you are represented by attorney Cerasa, there is no upfront fee. If we don’t recover compensation, you owe us nothing.