Got Injured in a Car Accident a Year Ago, Is It Too Late to Make a Claim?
Many people are injured in automobile accidents and do not realize how injured they actually are until later. This is especially true with issues like back injuries that have a way of hanging on throughout the remainder of the victim’s life in some situations. The truth is that many injuries do not manifest quickly, and those who did not file immediately may think they have no recourse after waiting or failing to seek medical treatment. While failing to consult a doctor within 14 days of your accident will affect coverage by your own insurancecompany, you may still be able to file a lawsuit and receive damages paid by the negligent party’s insurance company. There is an important deadline to remember, however. By law, under most circumstances, injured parties have four years to file an injury claim against a negligent actor. This stipulation applies to automobile accidents as well as other accident injury claims. So do not delay. As soon as your begin feeling your injuries, consult an experienced attorney like Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore Tampa car accident lawyers. We can help you file your claim and maximize your recovery.
Starting the Clock
The statute of limitations in all states includes what is termed a “clock” that designates the time at which the limitations period begins. This normally begins at the time of the injury when an injury is realized immediately during the mishap or closely after the fact. However, there could be a determination of a delayed clock beginning when the injury is not recognized by the victim in a timely manner.
Limitations Altercations
There are also some cases where the statute of limitations clock can be “tolled,” which is stopping the clock due to the nature of certain physical conditions along the way to recovery. This can be confusing for the typical injured party, but an experienced attorney can often successfully argue the claim to the court in specific instances when an injury is not recovering as expected or when the claimant did not seek extensive medical treatment from the first point the injury was realized. Injuries can worsen over time; someclaims get filed late under certain circumstances.
Never assume it is too late to file an accident injury claim. Always call Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore Tampa car accident lawyers for advice on pursuing damages. Your claim may still be valid and much more valuable than you think.
As a tenant living in an apartment building, it is reasonable to expect that the building and the area around it will be maintained for safety. Unfortunately, this is not always the case,and many tenants endure injuries. While proving the responsibility of the landlord is a major factor, it is important that tenants know that they are able to claim financial compensation if the landlord was negligent. Tampa FL slip and fall lawyers can walk through what this means and help determine if you are able to proceed with further legal action. When an attorney from Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore works with you, they will ensure that you understand if you have a case and what you need to do next.
Landlord Negligence
When you have a slip and fall at an apartment building and wish to hold the landlord responsible, you have to prove that the landlord was negligent. Generally, a landlord is responsible for maintaining the property inside and outside. This means that issues in the apartment and on the outdoor grounds should be promptly corrected. While this is the job of the landlord, the tenant also has the role of reporting issues that are in the apartment. If the tenant has done so, and the landlord hasn’t fixed the problem, they may well be liable for damages. It will also be considered if the landlord should have reasonably known about the problem and failed to fix it.
As a victim of a fall in an apartment building, you will need Tampa FL slip and fall lawyers to represent you so that you can get the money you deserve for your injuries. Let us work for you to help with your claim for financial compensation.
Contact the office of Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore so that we can schedule a consultation to answer your questions.
If you have been in a car accident during the COVID-19 pandemic, you are facing a tough situation. While you may hesitate to visit a doctor out of fear of the coronavirus, you will also have injuries that need to be treated and documented. Should you fail to see a doctor in a timely manner, you are putting your health at risk as well as making it less likely that you will gain compensation for your injuries. Rather than let this happen, seek legal advice from Tampa FL car accident attorneys at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore.
Medical Documentation
While ensuring you will have your car accident injuries addressed promptly by doctors who can give you the treatment you need, visiting a doctor will also allow you to have your injuries immediately documented in your medical records. By doing so, an insurance company will have less chance of claiming you were not seriously injured in your accident, which could let the company deny you the compensation you deserve.
Gaining Compensation
When you are injured in a serious auto accident, through no fault of your own, there is little doubt you will need substantial compensation for your damages. If you were seriously injured, you will likely have medical bills arriving at your mailbox for months, all of which will need to be paid. Also, you will need compensation for the wages you have already lost as well as what you will lose until you can return to work. These damages, along with the pain and suffering you are enduring each day, make it even more critical you visit a doctor as soon as possible after your accident.
Since doctors and hospitals are taking extra precautions to protect non-COVID-19 patients, do not hesitate to seek medical treatment following your car accident. To gain further legal advice regarding your accident, schedule a consultation at once with Tampa FL car accident attorneys at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore.
Even while the COVID-19 pandemic plays out across the country, that does not mean you can avoid going to the grocery store for various essentials. Unfortunately, despite social distancing, you may be injured while shopping. Whether this involves a slip and fall accident in a store aisle, being struck by falling merchandise from store shelves, or other circumstances, never hesitate to seek advice regarding compensation for your injuries. To start the process, turn to personal injury attorneys in Tampa FL at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore.
Evidence of Your Injuries
When you are injured in a grocery store, it will be crucial you have as much evidence as possible supporting your case. In most cases, this will involve video footage from the store, eyewitness statements as to what happened, and photos of the accident scene. In addition, always allow yourself to receive medical treatment at the store and be taken to a hospital for additional treatment, since this will show insurance companies you were indeed seriously injured in your accident.
Say as Little as Possible about the Accident
When you are at the store following your accident, say as little as possible about what happened until you have spoken to personal injury attorneys in Tampa FL at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore. Unfortunately, if you say something as simple as “I’m sorry” to a store manager, they can try to use this against you to claim you caused the accident. Should this happen, you may lose out on the chance to be compensated for your injuries, lost wages, and other damages.
While you may think the grocery store and its insurance company will want to help you in these situations, it is typically in their best interest to try tomake you look as bad as possible. To have expert legal representation on your side, consult at once with personal injury attorneys in Tampa FL at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore.
When you are involved in a car crash, you may not immediately go to the doctor. In many situations, you may not believe you sustained injuries. However, when you have suffered a concussion, whiplash, back injuries, or blunt force trauma leading to internal bleeding, symptoms may not develop for several days. Thus, when you do seek medical treatment and later file a claim, insurance companies will use the lapse in time to coerce you into thinking you don’t have a case. Don’t let them.
Verifying Your Injuries
Even if you waited several days before seeking medical treatment, speaking to car accident lawyers in Tampa FL at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore may help you realize you do in fact still have a valid legal case. Depending on your injuries, your attorneys can work with doctors who can serve as expert witnesses and testify in court on your behalf. By having your injuries documented in medical records, expert witnesses can testify when the injuries took place and that they are consistent with injuries sustained in the type of accident you encountered.
Gaining Compensation
Though it can be more difficult to obtain compensation for your injuries from insurance companies if you fail to seek immediate medical treatment after an accident, it is by no means an impossible task. By hiring car accident lawyers in Tampa FL such as those at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore, an insurance company will know it can no longer rely on intimidation and coercion to convince you compensation will not be heading your way.
To make sure you gain fair and much-needed compensation for injuries you sustained in a car accident, immediately hire car accident lawyers in Tampa FL from Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore. By doing so, you’ll have attorneys on your side who take a no-nonsense approach with insurance companies to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Should you get injured due to a slip and fall, defective product, or even a car accident during COVID-19, you may think you have few options regarding a personal injury lawsuit. However, this is not true. In fact, attorneys are handling personal injury claims each and every day. Yet, while this is the case, there are things you should be aware of concerning how COVID-19 may affect your lawsuit. To get the best advice during these unprecedented times, consult with Tampa FL personal injury lawyers at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore.
Don’t Delay Medical Treatment
Since many people are afraid of being infected with COVID-19 in hospitals or while visiting a doctor, accident victims are choosing to delay getting treatment for their injuries. If you are pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, this is a critical mistake. Florida law requires you to see a doctor within 14 days of your accident; if you do not, your own insurance company may reduce the amount it is obligated to pay you under your “personal injury protection (PIP)” coverage. By delaying treatment, you put your health in jeopardy while giving insurance companies the chance to claim your injuries were not serious enough to warrant medical treatment. Therefore, always get immediate medical treatment and have your injuries documented by doctors.
Accepting a Quick Insurance Settlement
If you are like many people during the pandemic, you may be facing stressful financial circumstances that have been made more difficult by your accident. Unfortunately, insurance companies are well aware of this and will likely use it to their advantage. Since the insurance company will want to compensate you little, if any, for your injuries, it may contact you and offer you a quick settlement for a very low amount of money. Rather than immediately accepting this offer, let Tampa FL personal injury lawyers at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore negotiate for you to ensure you get maximum compensation to pay medical bills and replace lost income.
Should you have additional questions as to how you can pursue your personal injury lawsuit during COVID-19, consult immediately with Tampa FL personal injury lawyers at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore.
