Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law | February 28, 2025 | Personal Injury
Florida tort laws require that you prove another party caused your injuries before they are legally responsible for your damages. Knowing what to do after an accident or personal injury can help you win your case. Seeking prompt legal advice from a personal injury lawyer is one way of protecting your rights. Keep reading for five tips for winning personal injury cases in Melbourne, FL.
Being injured through no fault of your own can be overwhelming. You may incur substantial economic damages and non-economic damages. Maximizing your compensation for damages begins in the moments following an injury or accident.
1. Do Not Admit Fault While Documenting the Accident Scene
Fault plays a significant role in determining how much you may receive for damages. Florida changed its comparative fault law as of March 24, 2023, to add a 51% bar for damages.
You can be barred from receiving damages if you are more than 50% to blame for the accident. If your fault is less than 51%, you can receive damages, but the amount you receive is reduced by your percentage of blame for the cause of your injuries.
Therefore, do not admit fault or say anything that could be interpreted as admitting fault, such as apologizing or saying you are sorry. Instead, state what happened without making any assumptions about fault.
Also, take pictures and make a video of the accident scene to preserve evidence. Ask eyewitnesses for their names and contact details.
2. Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Saying that you are not injured could hurt your case. It is best not to turn down medical services if available. If you do not require EMS, seek a doctor as soon as possible after your injury. Prompt medical treatment improves your chances of winning a personal injury case.
Be honest with your doctor about your symptoms and injuries. Report all symptoms, regardless of how minor. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan until you are released from care.
3. Keep Detailed Records Related to Your Accident and Injuries
You must prove you sustained damages to recover money for your claim. Keep copies of all documents related to your case, including doctor’s bills, receipts, invoices, lost wages, etc. Keep a list of all out-of-pocket expenses with documentation to prove the cost of each expense.
Documenting pain and suffering can be more challenging. Take photographs of your injuries throughout your recovery. Write about your recovery in a journal to recall the details of your journey, including pain levels and restrictions caused by your injuries.
4. Maintain Privacy During Your Case
Posting on social media and discussing your case could make winning more difficult. Insurance companies search for evidence to disprove your claim. If you post pictures online of your vacation, the company may claim your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
Innocent comments and photographs could be twisted and intentionally misinterpreted. It is best to avoid posting information online and discussing your claim with family and friends until you win your case and receive a settlement.
5. Be Honest With Your Melbourne Personal Injury Attorney
Your attorney cannot effectively represent your best interest if they do not know everything about your case. Therefore, tell your attorney everything you know about the accident, injuries, and pre-existing conditions.
For example, if you believe you could have contributed to the cause of the crash, tell your lawyer. Your attorney will thoroughly investigate the cause of your accident to determine whether you could be partially to blame. If your attorney knows this information, they can take steps to mitigate how your fault impacts your case.
Likewise, tell your lawyer if you have pre-existing health conditions or sustained injuries in a prior accident. Insurance companies may use pre-existing conditions to undervalue or deny your claim. Hiding this information from your attorney could backfire. Your lawyer will proactively address pre-existing conditions to prove the accident aggravated a pre-existing condition or the condition has nothing to do with your current injuries.
Learn More During a Free Consultation With a Melbourne Personal Injury Lawyer
An experienced Melbourne personal injury lawyer can help you take steps to improve your chances of winning your case. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with a personal injury attorney.
Contact a Personal Injury lawyer at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Today
For more information, please contact Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law to schedule a free consultation. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Orlando, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa, and Titusville.
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Orlando, FL Office
633 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32803
Phone: (407) 801-3000
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Orlando, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 28.5534238,-81.3692001
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Palm Bay, FL Office
4620 Lipscomb Street N.E Suite #3K
Palm Bay, FL 32905
Phone: (321) 677-5964
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Palm Bay, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 28.039083,-80.6083109
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Melbourne, FL Office
1600 W Eau Gallie Blvd #205j
Melbourne, FL 32935
Phone: (321) 450-7134
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Melbourne, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 28.1289147,-80.6461588
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Cocoa, FL Office
717 S Cocoa Blvd STE 203
Cocoa, FL 32922
(321) 449-8042
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Cocoa, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 28.3511613,-80.7312948
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law – Titusville, FL Office
4527 S Hopkins Ave Suite B
Titusville, FL 32780
Phone: (407) 801-3000
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Titusville, FL.
Find us with our GeoCoordinates:28.5584923,-80.8010051
