Sustaining unanticipated injuries is enough to threaten most people’s financial security. Thankfully, those who are hurt at the hands of someone else typically have legal recourse.
If you’re struggling to make ends meet following an accident, you may be able to recover monetary damages by filing a personal injury claim. To give your case the best chance of success, there are certain steps you should take from day one. They include:
- Seek Prompt Medical Care
If you were not transported to a medical facility directly from the scene, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. Failing to seek prompt care could lead to the insurance company arguing that the injuries were caused by something else or that they are not as severe as you are claiming. The insurer may also contend that you have failed to mitigate the damages.
Personal injury claimants are obligated to take reasonable steps to minimize their healthcare costs and other losses. This is called “mitigating damages.” If you fail to do so, you could be found partially liable for the medical bills, lost wages, and other damages you incur. Depending on the circumstances, being held liable for just a small percentage of the damages could translate into a major financial loss.
- Start a Personal Injury Journal
You can use bills, receipts, and invoices to prove your economic damages, but you will have to rely on other evidence to prove intangible non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. As such, it’s wise to start a personal injury journal on the day you get hurt.
Detailed entries that recount the recovery process and the ways in which the injuries are affecting your everyday life will contextualize your emotional distress, loss of life enjoyment, and pain and suffering. These entries can help your attorney build a more compelling claim for non-economic damages.
- Deactivate Your Social Media Accounts
The insurance adjuster might be monitoring your online activity. If you post photos of yourself participating in physical activities or even just spending time with friends, they might be used to challenge the severity of your injuries or to argue that you have failed to mitigate damages.
If you cannot deactivate your profiles while the claim is pending, you should still update your privacy settings and avoid posting about the accident, your injuries, your social life, or your expenditures. You should also reject connection requests from anyone whom you do not recognize.
Discuss Your Case with Nicoletti Accident Injury Lawyers, a Personal Injury Attorney in Tampa Bay
If you were seriously hurt through no fault of your own, turn to Nicoletti Accident Injury Lawyers to find out if you have grounds for a personal injury claim. Our resourceful team will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and compile the evidence needed to pursue the highest settlement or verdict possible.
Call us today at 727-845-5972 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Florida.
Nicolette R. Nicoletti
Managing Partner
Nicolette R. Nicoletti is the founder and managing partner of the Nicoletti Accident Injury Lawyers. She was born and raised in New Port Richey, Florida. Nicolette attended Genesis Preparatory School and graduated salutatorian of her class. She then went onto Saint Leo University for her undergraduate education. She graduated magna cum laude from the Honors Program with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. While at Saint Leo University, Nicolette was President of Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society), Secretary of Alpha Phi Sigma (Criminal Justice Honor Society), and an active member of Delta Epsilon Sigma (National Scholastic Honor Society).
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