When you ride in someone else’s car, you might not think about it, but you are putting your life and safety into their hands. In case you are in a Florida car accident as a passenger, take a look at these three common mistakes that can cost you.
Not Seeking Medical Attention Immediately
Our bodies are amazing things. They are resilient and tough. They react to physical trauma in ways that help us cope. Unfortunately, this can also lead to problems down the road.
Sometimes Florida car accident victims don’t notice that they are injured right away. In certain circumstances, injury symptoms may not show up right away—perhaps because you are in shock following the crash or because of the nature of the injury itself. For this reason, it is of absolute importance that you see a doctor after your accident. The sooner you can schedule an appointment, the better off you will be.
Why?
First of all, you can’t fix what you don’t know is broken. Injuries that you leave untreated can worsen severely over time and cause debilitating pain and permanent injury.
Second, if a medical professional doesn’t diagnose your injuries after your accident and you want to pursue a personal injury claim later, you could lose out on compensation.
If you have any doubt about whether you should go to the hospital, it’s best to err on the side of caution.
Not Knowing Things Can Get More Complex with a Rideshare Accident
The next time you order that Uber or Lyft, think about this—if you’re injured in an accident while you are a passenger of a rideshare driver, you could be left holding your own medical bills.
The reason you could be on the hook is that rideshare companies have whole teams of attorneys to handle their insurance cases for them. If they want to take advantage of your situation—you may be desperate to settle for less if your bills are piling up and you’re out of work—they can and will.
Depending on the situation, you might not even be able to hold the rideshare company liable, instead having to depend on the driver’s personal insurance. Rideshare cases tend to be more complex than the average car accident case, so it’s best to hire an attorney who has extensive experience handling them.
Not Having UM/UIM Coverage
Haven’t heard of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage? It’s time to listen up!
If you are in an accident and the at-fault driver doesn’t carry bodily injury coverage, or doesn’t carry enough coverage, you’re going to wish that you had this type of coverage. When you are in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have enough BI coverage, UM/UIM coverage steps in to make up the difference.
Having this coverage could mean the difference between paying your bills and being in debt. If you don’t yet have this type of insurance, we suggest that you add it as soon as possible.
Don’t Make These Mistakes after a Florida Car Accident
Are you ready to pursue your case? Contact us today and set up an appointment to speak to an attorney. Call us at (888) 450-4909, or write to us at [email protected].
