How To Increase Your Personal Injury Settlement in Florida
One of the things clients want to know once they initiate a personal injury lawsuit is the amount of money they can get as compensation for their injury. It is only natural that clients always want to receive the highest possible settlement. Accident victims lose a lot, and it is only through fair compensation that they can recover financially. Unfortunately, attaining fair compensation is not always guaranteed, and it is not easy to foresee how long a personal injury case will take to settle.
While there is no guarantee that your case will take a certain amount of time to settle and that you will receive a certain amount of money as compensation, there are some things you can do to increase your personal injury settlement. You may have had no control over the accident, but you have control over the things you do after the accident and after filing your claim. For example, you should never accept any settlement offers you receive from insurance companies without consulting your attorney. Insurance companies always give victims low initial payment offers; unfortunately, many inexperienced plaintiffs accept these offers. Taking a low offer will only leave you in a disadvantaged position when the money you receive cannot cover all the losses you suffered after the injury.
Once you choose to file a personal injury claim, keep in mind that your case has value, and it is probably worth more than you can imagine. Moreover, remember that someone else’s negligence caused your injury; therefore, it is only fair that you receive fair compensation. It would be best if you did everything in your power to increase your settlement amount.
Keep reading to learn how you can increase your personal injury settlement in Florida.
What Am I Entitled To in a Personal Injury Case in Florida?
After being involved in a Florida accident and sustaining an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to receive fair compensation. Once you file a personal injury case in Florida, you are entitled to receive compensation for different types of damages. These damages are;
- Economic Damages
- Non-Economic Damages
- Punitive Damages
When determining the damages, the court will consider various elements of your case. To increase your settlement, work with a qualified personal injury attorney. For example, an attorney can help you maximize the compensation by negotiating with the insurance companies. Apart from hiring a skilled personal injury attorney, there are other things you can do to increase your personal injury settlement.
How To Increase Your Personal Injury Settlement in Florida
Below are two crucial things you can do to increase your personal injury settlement in Florida.
- Gather and Preserve Enough and Concrete Evidence
Courts always make decisions based on the evidence you present. Therefore, the more compelling evidence you have, the better your chances for increasing your settlement. There are many ways of gathering and preserving persuasive evidence. One of the most effective ways of doing so is by taking pictures and videos of the accident scene. This method works best in auto accidents. Through the photos and videos, the court will have a clear image of your accident and will be able to make an informed decision.
- Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible
Even if you are unsure of an injury’s extent, you should seek medical attention immediately after the accident. If you delay seeking medical treatment, you will give the defense a chance to bring strong arguments. For instance, the defense team might say that you failed to seek medical attention soon after the accident because you were not severely injured. Such an argument is difficult to counter if, indeed, you delayed seeking medical attention after an accident. If you are reading this, a day or two after being involved in an accident, and you have not yet seen a medical professional, you need to see one immediately.
Apart from applying the above tips, make sure you abide by the Florida statute of limitations for personal injury cases to increase your chances of getting a fair settlement. According to Florida Statute 95.11(3)(a), you have four years from the time of an accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, you can speak to your attorney to determine the exceptions to the law if you think your situation is an exempted one.
Contact a Naples Personal Injury Attorney for Help Today
If you need help with your personal injury case, contact a Naples personal injury attorney at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A., at 239-649-8050 today to schedule a consultation.
