Table of Contents
If you recently sustained injuries in an auto accident, you might be thinking about filing an insurance claim to seek recovery of your damages. However, dealing with auto insurance companies in Florida can be challenging without dedicated legal counsel at your side. The insurance adjuster usually has one goal in mind — to settle your claim for the least amount possible to mitigate the company’s losses. An experienced car accident attorney at Kogan & DiSalvo can help you understand your legal rights after a crash and explore the best options to pursue maximum recovery.
The first step toward achieving an auto accident settlement in Florida is to file the initial claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The insurance adjuster will want to know information such as the date, time, and location of the crash, the contact information of all involved parties, the severity of the claimant’s injuries, the extent of any property damage, and whether or not the police completed an accident report. An attorney at Kogan & DiSalvo can help someone collect any necessary information to start a claim without jeopardizing this person’s recovery.
Once an injured party files their claim, the insurance carrier will investigate the details of the crash to determine liability. Sometimes, the adjuster will try to get the injured party to settle their car accident damages too soon. An insurer also may try to place some or all of the blame on the injured claimant, rather than admit the liability of their insured.
Once the injured party completes treatment, the next step would be to send a settlement demand to the insurance company. A lawyer from our firm can put together a thorough settlement demand on behalf of an injured claimant, detailing their injuries, medical expenses, wage loss, and other damages sustained as a result of the crash. An insurer usually has up to 30 days to review a settlement demand.
If the car insurance company responds with a counteroffer, the case moves into the negotiation phase. A lawyer could help someone dealing with a Florida car insurance company and fight for fair compensation for their losses. If both sides reach an agreement, the claimant must sign a release, and the funds would likely be disbursed in the form of a check. In situations where it is not possible to reach a fair settlement with the insurer, an attorney may advise the claimant whether taking the case to court may be the best option.
Car insurance companies sometimes try to take advantage of injured claimants. For example, the adjuster may send a medical authorization form to a claimant, which if signed, would give the insurer access to the individual’s entire medical history. Then, the insurer could try to claim that a preexisting condition rather than the crash was the cause of the claimant’s damages. It is not uncommon for adjusters to request a recorded statement from the claimant, in which they may ask leading questions to diminish their insured’s liability.
A lawyer can provide invaluable legal assistance at each stage of an auto accident case. An attorney can put an injured person’s best interests at the forefront and vigilantly protect their legal rights. Additionally, a lawyer with strong negotiation skills can fight for a fair settlement that covers all of an individual’s losses.
If you are dealing with auto insurance companies in Florida after a collision, it may be in your best interest to talk with a lawyer from Kogan & DiSalvo. Our attorneys can guide you through this process and help you avoid making mistakes that could jeopardize your claim. To get started with your case, contact our office today and schedule a free initial case consultation.
If you are injured and unable to come to us,
our attorney will come to you - there is no charge for us to do so.