Gainesville Car Accident Attorney

Don’t let the insurance adjuster keep you from getting the money you deserve!
Insurance adjusters thrive off of the confusion that Gainesville, Florida car accidents cause in people's lives. The adjuster’s job is to make the insurance company more money by paying less money to people injured in Gainesville, Florida auto accidents -- 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 auto accidents can show proof of their injuries and beat the insurance adjuster at his own game.

At the Scene of the Collision:

Make Observations ( Also see our Auto Accident Procedures page)
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 a Gainesville, Florida 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 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 you across the shoulder and chest, but after several weeks those bruises heal. Months later, when the 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 Observations
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 an exaggeration. 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 a Gainesville, Florida personal injury law firm like Steven A. Bagen & Associates, you may have no idea of the real value of your claim. Moreover, the Insurance Research Council found that on average 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 after your Gainesville, Florida auto accident. Whether you choose Steven A. Bagen & Associates to represent you or not, you need an experienced, tough law firm on your side. Don’t go it alone.

If you have been injured, contact a Gainesville Auto Accident Lawyer.