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Vehicle Accidents

Click on the following links for information Car / Truck / Motorcycle Accidents Things To Remember What You Need To Know Beat The Adjuster FAQ about Accidents What Is My Case Worth

Auto, Truck, Motorcycle
There is no such thing as a “simple auto accident”. The moment that you hear the crunch of metal and the shattering of glass, your life has entered a difficult time. You have medical bills, lost wages during recovery, car repairs, and other expenses. The last thing you need is the kind of hassle the insurance company is happy to give.

If your auto accident in Florida occurred while you were riding a motorcycle, you have different rights than the driver of a car. Or, say you’ve been in an auto accident involving a huge tractor trailer, that is another unique and complex area. Our firm is composed of professionals and auto accident lawyers who know the letter of the law in these cases. Don’t go it alone. Read more about what you need to know by following the links below.

Things to remember in your personal injury case related to vehicle accidents:

Procedures

1. Stop Immediately. Stay calm and do what you can within reason to avoid blocking traffic.
2. Check to see if anyone is injured. Don’t move any person who is injured.
3. Call the police. Cooperate fully with the officer. Only give information necessary to explain what happened. Never admit guilt or fault.
4. If an insurance adjuster shows up at the scene, don’t give any statements and don’t sign anything.
5. If possible get the names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses. Make a mental note of what witnesses say like, “That black car was flying.”
6. Visit your doctor as soon as you can.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The law requires that the person or company responsible for the accident pay for your car repairs and injuries. Many victims of motorcycle and auto accidents try to handle their own personal injury cases, hoping that the insurance companies involved will settle as promptly and fairly as advertised. Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not respond in that manner, and that’s why a local auto accident lawyer can help. Insurance companies’ obligations are to their stockholders and policy holders, not to people injured in a Florida car accident. Insurance companies have enormous advantages: vast wealth, armies of sharp, experienced adjusters and attorneys, and dozens of legal reasons to reduce or deny compensation. At the Law Offices of Jeffrey Meldon Associates, our obligation is to you.

Negotiating alone or waiting until the insurance company makes an offer can be frustrating and costly. One wrong move or one mistake can cost you money. Delay or guessing about the value of your personal injury case can result in the loss of valuable rights and thousands of dollars.

Compensation can be sought for medical bills, lost wages, car rentals and repairs, the attorneys and for any pain and suffering you endured. As Florida auto accident lawyers, Jeffrey Meldon & Associates are highly experienced in the field of auto accident law. Our expert case managers and investigators will take care of getting the proof needed to recover your damages. We will use every available resource to help you.

BEAT THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER

Don’t let the adjuster keep you from getting the money you deserve!
Insurance adjusters thrive off of the confusion that car accidents cause in peoples lives. The adjuster’s job is to make the insurance company more money by paying less money to the people injured in Florida, people who need it. They do this by taking advantage of any instances where an injured person does not have proof of damages or injuries. We know that’s not fair, so we’ve put together some ways that people injured in Florida can show proof of their injuries and beat the insurance adjuster at his own game.

At the scene of the collision:

Make observations
Identify the witnesses so there will be someone to support your case if it goes to court. Write down their names and addresses and interview them. Ask them what they saw and make a note of phrases they used like “slammed into”, “plowed”, “speeding”, or “he ran the red light”. Beware of insurance representatives at the scene of the car accident. It has been rumored that some insurance companies send adjusters to auto accident scenes in order to catch people off guard with incriminating questions or to have them sign away any rights they may have to future compensation.

Immediately After the Collision:

See a doctor
If you are injured, schedule an appointment with your own doctor as soon as possible. Don’t let the insurance adjuster choose a doctor for you. You have the right to a doctor of your choice.

Take Pictures
Take pictures of your car as soon as possible after the accident. When the adjuster asks for proof of damage, it is difficult to dispute a picture taken of your car at the collision scene. Pictures of the damage will help you tell your story. If possible, take pictures of the other cars involved as well. These pictures will help supply information about the severity of the impact associated with your collision. Take pictures of your injuries before they heal. In many cases, the seat belt strap will bruise our clients across their shoulder and chest, but after several weeks those bruises heal. Months later, when then insurance adjuster is arguing that the auto accident was not very significant, pictures of your bruises and other injuries will help solidify your personal injury claim.

As time passes:

Write Down Your Observation:
Keep notes about your injuries. In 6 or 7 months, you might forget how it hurt just to get dressed, and the adjuster will try to make it seem like any description you give is exaggerated. Write down your pain medications. These kinds of written documents can be very valuable when presenting your personal injury claim to the insurance adjuster or to a judge and jury in court.

Keep Records of Expenses
The adjuster will ask for proof of anything you claim as an expense. Be sure you keep receipts for prescriptions, household services, like lawn-mowing and getting someone to cook for you, car rentals, and so forth. Keep each of those receipts so you can document every expense.

Most Importantly:

Consult an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Without legal help from the attorneys at Jeffrey Meldon and Associates, you may have no idea of the real value of your claim. And, the Insurance Research Council found that on average the injured people who use a lawyer receive three and a half times more money than those who do not! (Source: Insurance Research Council 1999 Study)

The bottom line is that the insurance adjuster is not on your side. His goal is to save the insurance company money by giving you as little as possible. Whether you choose Jeffrey Meldon Associates to represent you or not, you need and experienced, tough law firm on your side. Don’t go it alone.

The North Florida law firm of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates focuses on personal injury and criminal defense cases in the following cities and counties: Gainesville, Alachua County; Lake City, Columbia County; Ocala, Marion County; Bronson, Levy County, Starke, Bradford County; Lake Butler, Union County; Inverness, Citrus County; Palatka, Putnam County.

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