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Any time you are injured
because of the negligence of a person, corporation or any other
type of entity, you may be entitled to compensation for your
injuries. There are many ways that you can get hurt because of
the negligence of another. Here are just a few examples:
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Car
Accident |
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Slipping and Falling |
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An
appliance malfunctions |
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a
bottle explodes in your hand |
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someone throws something and it hits you |
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dog
bites (or any other accident associated with an animal) |
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negligence of a doctor or any other type of health care
provider |
Note:
In Florida, as in most states,
owners are responsible for any damage to property or person
caused by their animals. To be sure what the law is regarding
damage done by animals in your state, consult a local attorney.
CLICK HERE for assistance in locating the appropriate attorney
in your local area.
At the time of injury very few
people think about bringing a claim, most are only interested in
taking care of their injuries. Once you believe that you may
have a claim, it is essential that certain steps be taken to
preserve the validity of the claim. The sooner these steps are
taken, the easier it will be when and if you pursue a claim
against the person, persons or corporation responsible for your
injuries.
Here is what you should do:
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1. |
Go to the doctor
immediately if you only think you may be injured. If
you don’t want to call an ambulance, at least go to the
Emergency Room at the local hospital on your own. If
you don't go to the doctor immediately, and in the weeks
or months that follow you begin to suffer pain which you
associate with the accident, it will be harder to prove
that the injuries you are complaining of resulted from
the event because of the passage of time. |
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2. |
Follow-up with your
own family doctor. Ask for a referral to an
orthopedic doctor if you are having trouble with your
back or a neurologist if you are having symptoms
involving numbness, tingling or shooting pains from your
neck down your arms, or down your legs from your lower
back. |
NOTE: It is very important to give a
full history of how you were injured. Give specific facts about
how the injury occurred. Also, when you complete an information
sheet with whatever health care provider you are being examined
by, be sure to give a full medical history.
DO NOT FAIL TO GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY PREVIOUS INJURIES.
If you do not give a complete medical history, your doctor may
not provide complete care and treatment. Failure to give
complete disclosure of past medical history may also raise
questions regarding your credibility.
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3. |
Secure Witnesses:
If you can, get the
names of anyone who may have seen what happened to you.
If it is a car accident, in most states the
investigating officer at the scene of the accident will
do the work for you. Be sure to find out if an accident
report was done by the Law Enforcement Authority charged
with that obligation, and you can obtain a copy of that
report. Getting a copy of this report is especially
helpful when and if you do hire an attorney, as the
attorney will be able to get useful information from
that report. The names of any witnesses, the name of the
person responsible for the accident, the at-fault
party's insurance information, and a diagram of how the
accident occurred, will be included in the report. |
CAR ACCIDENTS:
If you have been involved in a
car accident, contact your insurance company and advise them of
the accident. This will cover you in terms of your obligation
to notify your insurance company when the accident happens.
Florida Residents:
If you live in Florida, you
will be required to carry Personal Injury Protection or PIP
insurance. Request from your insurance company PIP forms for
lost wages and medical bills. Complete the forms and return the
forms immediately to your insurance company.
All other states:
Every state may have different
laws related to automobile accidents and the damages available
to individuals who are injured. Also, there may be different
laws regarding assigning fault and how insurance benefits are
paid to all parties involved. You must check with an attorney
in your home state for specific information. CLICK HERE for our
lawyer locator service.
UNDERINSURED/UNINSURED MOTORIST INSURANCE:
Underinsured/uninsured
motorist insurance is insurance (UM) that provides coverage when
the at-fault party has no insurance. If you are injured in an
automobile accident and the person who caused that accident does
not have insurance, or has only limited amounts of insurance,
then your UM insurance will compensate you for injuries. This
compensation is over and above any coverage held by the at-fault
party. Typically you must exhaust all coverage of the at-fault
party before you are able to make a claim against any UM
coverage you may hold.
Different states provide
different laws regarding making a UM claim. Be sure to consult
an attorney in your home state for specific advice on how to
make a UM claim.
NOTE: UM insurance is extra and you
must be sure when you purchase insurance that you are also
purchasing UM coverage. In Florida it is not mandatory to
purchase UM insurance. Again, laws from state to state differ,
consult a local attorney.
More
Information about your case:
Click
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HERE for a form to complete, and your case will be evaluated
and you will receive a response to your inquiry.
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