Three Steps To Maximizing Compensation After a Car Accident in Clearwater

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers | Car Accident

Three Steps To Maximizing Compensation After a Car Accident in Clearwater

After a car accident in Clearwater, FL, you may have several options for obtaining compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other losses. First, you must file a claim with your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance provider, regardless of who is responsible for the collision. 

However, what if the insurance company denies part of your claim? What if your losses exceed your PIP policy limits? Do you know what types of damages you can recover? An experienced Clearwater car accident lawyer is your best option for navigating these and other issues and recovering the maximum compensation for you.

An attorney will handle insurance adjusters and negotiate for the benefits you deserve. They will also identify all potential sources of compensation – such as filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. 

Below we discuss three steps to maximizing your financial recovery after a collision in Clearwater. 

Thoroughly Investigate the Car Accident and Collect Solid Evidence

Whether you’re filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, you’ll need evidence. To begin, your attorney will launch a thorough investigation into the collision. They’ll listen to your version of events to determine what happened from your perspective. 

Once your lawyer has discussed the accident with you, they’ll conduct an in-depth investigation, which may include: 

  • Obtaining and reviewing photos, videos, surveillance, or traffic camera footage of the collision
  • Visiting the accident scene to see if there are skid marks, debris, or any other evidence 
  • Gathering documentary evidence, such as the crash report, medical records, and other records
  • Interviewing eyewitnesses and others who were at the accident scene, including police officers and emergency medical responders
  • Consulting leading experts – such as accident reconstructionists – regarding complex aspects of the case
  • Reviewing the opposing party’s statements of what happened to identify and follow up on discrepancies between the versions of events
  • Determining whether any other factors contributed to the accident by analyzing things like weather reports and traffic conditions on the accident date

Once your Clearwater car accident attorney has gathered and analyzed all the evidence and completed their investigation, they can build your case and calculate your losses.

Accurately Calculate All Damages

If you are filing a PIP insurance claim, you’re entitled to 80% of your medical costs and 60% of your lost income. However, if you file a claim against the opposing party, you may be entitled to other types of damages if you can prove liability. 

One of the more challenging aspects of a personal injury claim is accurately assessing damages. 

You can seek economic damages for your financial losses, such as: 

You can also pursue non-economic damages for the personal losses you endured due to the Clearwater car accident, such as: 

Economic losses are typically easier to prove because they’re verifiable with receipts, statements, and bills. However, putting a dollar value on non-economic losses and future damages is more challenging. It may require the assistance of expert witnesses, such as a financial advisor or medical specialist. 

Strong Negotiation Skills

It’s vital to be able to effectively negotiate – or have an attorney with solid negotiation skills. 

Insurance adjusters are trained to undervalue claims and pay car accident victims as little as possible. They use various tactics to minimize their financial responsibility. 

For example, the insurance company or defendant may blame you for causing the crash without any evidence to back it up. They do this because if they can shift some fault to you, your damages will be reduced due to Florida’s pure comparative negligence law. For example, if you’re assigned 40% of the blame, you’ll only be entitled to recover 60% of your awarded compensation.

These and other strategies are frequently used to undervalue an injured party’s damages. An exceptional negotiator can push back and protect your rights to fair compensation.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Clearwater, FL for Help Maximizing Your Compensation

Ultimately, a skilled car accident attorney will be your best chance at securing the maximum amount of money if you were involved in a car accident. They know state and insurance laws inside and out and how to gather the evidence required to prove your case. They’re familiar with insurance company tactics and will advocate for your best interests. 

Contact an attorney for a free initial consultation and see how they can help you maximize your compensation after a car accident in Clearwater, Florida. 

Contact the Clearwater Car Accident Lawyers At Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers for Help

For more information, please contact the Clearwater and St. Petersburg car accident law firm of Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve Pinellas County and its surrounding areas:

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater
1875 N Belcher Rd. STE 201,
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 796-8282

Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg
2560 1st Ave S,
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
(727) 349-1728