How Do I File a Personal Injury Claim in Florida?

Filing a personal injury claim provides an opportunity to seek just compensation when you have been injured in an accident. The process starts with hiring an experienced lawyer to represent you. While hiring a lawyer is not legally required, you need someone on your side who knows what it takes to fight for the compensation you deserve.

If you have been injured in an accident in Florida, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. Accident victims can file personal injury claims in a wide range of circumstances, and eligible victims can seek compensation for their present and future accident-related losses.

Filing a personal injury claim is a complex process. As Florida personal injury lawyers, we fight for justice on behalf of accident victims every day. We know what it takes to assert our clients’ legal rights effectively, and we are committed to helping each of our clients recover the maximum compensation available.

What is the Process for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Florida?

So, if you have been injured in an accident, what should you do? How do you file a personal injury claim and seek the financial compensation you deserve?

In most situations, filing a personal injury claim involves dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This is the case with vehicle collisions, falls and most other common types of accidents. There are several different types of liability insurance, and individuals and businesses routinely rely on liability insurance to protect them when they make mistakes that lead to serious injuries.

How Do You File a Claim with the At-Fault Party’s Insurance Company?

Before you can file an insurance claim, you first need to know which insurance company to contact. Additionally, before you file, you will want to be sure that you have the evidence you need to prove liability, and you will want to be sure that you know what to do (and what not to do) during the claims process.

With this in mind, there are a few preliminary steps you need to take before filing a personal injury claim. To protect yourself, you should:  

1. Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer

Filing a personal injury claim is not a simple process. It is far more complex than most people realize—and this is one reason why many accident victims fail to recover the financial compensation they deserve.

As a result, hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer is a key first step in the process. Once you hire a lawyer, your lawyer will be able to:

• Advise you regarding the steps you need to take to protect your personal injury claim
• Advise you regarding the mistakes you need to avoid during the process
• Conduct an investigation to gather evidence of liability
• Determine the value of your claim based on your financial and non-financial losses
• Determine which insurance company is responsible for covering your losses

All of these are essential for ensuring that: (i) you assert your legal rights effectively, and (ii) you do not settle for less than you deserve. Unlike the insurance companies, your lawyer will have your best interests in mind, and his or her sole focus will be on helping you recover just compensation as quickly as possible.

2. Gather Evidence of Liability

As we said above, before you can file a personal injury claim, you need to know where to file. This involves identifying the party that is responsible for causing your injuries—and this involves conducting an investigation to gather evidence of liability.  

Once you hire a lawyer to represent you, investigating your accident will be one of your lawyer’s first priorities. With that said, if you have any evidence in your possession, you should be sure to keep this to share with your lawyer as well. Examples of evidence you may have in your possession include things like:

• Photos or videos
• Your handwritten notes
• Vehicle debris
• Damaged clothing or personal items
• A police report or incident report

The more evidence you can provide to your lawyer, the better. With that said, if you don’t have anything to share with your lawyer, that’s completely fine. As long as you hire a lawyer in time, your lawyer will be able to conduct a thorough investigation focused on gathering the evidence you need before it disappears.  

3. Make Sure You Know How Much You Deserve to Recover

Before filing a personal injury claim, it is also important to make sure you know—or at least have a general idea of—how much you deserve to recover. This is critical for making sure you do not settle your claim too soon. If you have a personal injury claim, you may be entitled to compensation for your present and future medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other financial and non-financial losses.

Once you have taken these preliminary steps, then you can begin the process of fighting for the financial compensation you deserve. As you navigate the insurance claims process, you will need to make informed decisions about settlement based on your lawyer’s advice—and, if a fair settlement offer is not on the table, you will need to be prepared to take your claim to court.

How Our Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help

Our Florida personal injury lawyers have decades of experience helping accident victims recover just compensation. If you have a personal injury claim, we can use our experience to protect your rights throughout the process. We can work quickly to gather the evidence you need, and we can provide the advice and insights you need to make sure you do not settle for less than you deserve.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

If you would like to speak with one of our Florida personal injury lawyers about your accident, we strongly encourage you to contact us for a free consultation today. To discuss your claim with an experienced lawyer in confidence as soon as possible, call 800-780-8607 or tell us how we can reach you online now.