Your Palm Harbor Auto Accident Lawyer

After your car accident, you’ll need someone on your side to help you through your insurance claim. Accident attorney David A. Papa is that person for you.

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Helping Through the Aftermath

A car accident is a stressful time. There are bills to pay and injuries to heal from, dealing with insurance companies on top of that could only make it worse. However, you don’t have to do it alone. Palm Harbor auto accident lawyer, David A. Papa is here to help you through the aftermath of your accident.

Your After Accident Guide

After a car accident, you may feel overwhelmed and even shell-shocked. It can be hard to decide what you need to do next, but we can help. By following these steps, you can set yourself up for your insurance claim and get on the right road to recovery.

Get Medical Care

If anyone is injured, your first step is to seek medical attention. Even if there is only a small injury, you need to document the treatment for your insurance claim.

Contact A Lawyer

Before calling your insurance company, you’ll want to call a Palm Harbor auto accident lawyer like David A. Papa. He can provide instructions for your next steps and advise what you should and shouldn’t say to your insurance company, the police, and the other driver.

Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company

Your car insurance company will cover your injuries, car damages, and other financial losses, so you need to report the accident to them as soon as you can.

Document With Photographs and Videos

You need to document the interior and exterior of both cars, the road conditions, location, weather, and any injuries if you can. These digital records will later be evidence for your insurance claim.

Call The Police

For small accidents, you may not need to call the police; but if the accident was severe, you don’t know who’s at fault, or someone was injured, you should call the police. When they arrive, be sure to ask for their names, badge numbers, and the case number on the report.

Tow Your Car Away

If your car has extensive damages, you need to call a tow truck to take it to an auto repair shop. Don’t forget to record the driver’s information and the towing cost too.

While what you do after a car accident is important, what you don’t do is just as important. To make sure you are making the right decisions after your accident, check out our Car Accident Tips.

Learn More Tips After Your Auto Accident

How Your Insurance Company Puts Itself First

When you turn to your insurance company for coverage, you might think they are trying to help, but their priority is to make a profit. By encouraging you into a low settlement, they save themselves money. Here are some of the tactics your insurance company uses to save money, and how we protect you from it.

Raise Your Rates

In Florida, insurance companies are not allowed to raise rates after a car accident; however, that only applies if you are not at fault. If your accident is not at fault, you’ll want a lawyer to help you prove it so you can be protected from higher rates.

Deny Your Claim

Though it’s in bad faith, your insurance company might pressure you into accepting a low offer by denying your claim. If your claim is justified, but your insurance company denies it, your lawyer can file a complaint. If they are found guilty, you may be awarded punitive damages.

Start With a Lowball Offer

It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to offer a settlement quickly after a car accident. They do this hoping you will be desperate enough to accept the low offer, even if it doesn’t cover all your bills. Your lawyer will be aware of this move and be able to advise you against accepting it.

WHERE WE PRACTICE

Pinellas County | Pasco County | Hillsborough County | North Hillsborough

Pinellas County

Pasco County

Hillsborough County

North Hillsborough

How David A. Papa Maximizes Your Settlement

Along with protecting you from your insurance company, your Palm Harbor auto accident lawyer David A. Papa can help you get the most out of your settlement. Here are some of the ways he can help you get the amount you deserve.

Include All Costs

When you file for an insurance claim, you’ll want the amount you ask for to cover all your expenses. This includes future costs like therapy, mobility aids, chiropractic care, and more. Your lawyer will know to take these expenses into account when negotiating your settlement

Justify Your Claim

After you file your insurance claim, you’ll need to justify your claim. That means you have to meet the burden of proof. This includes proving the following:

Duty of Care: The at-fault driver had a duty to prevent accidents and injuries.
Duty Violation:The at-fault driver didn’t fulfill their responsibility, which caused injuries and damages.
Cause and Effect: Their negligence was the direct cause of your injury and damages.
You Suffered Damages: Because of the at-fault driver’s actions and the resulting accident, you have suffered from lost wages, medical expenses, damage to your car, etc.

As a Palm Harbor auto accident lawyer, David A. Papa is familiar with these criteria. He’ll know the right evidence your insurance company needs to justify your claim and get the most out of your settlement.

Prevent Mistakes

When you’re at the scene of your car accident, it can be easy to say the wrong thing and have your statements be used against you later. A lawyer will be able to advise you against talking to the police, the other driver, or your insurance company without them present.

You Are a Priority

At Papa Injury Law, we believe everyone deserves access to the best legal care. That’s why David A. Papa makes himself available to his clients 24/7 and why he doesn’t charge unless his client wins. We make your case a priority, and David A. Papa won’t rest until you get the justice you deserve. Even if that means taking your case to court, he will if that means the best outcome for you and your family.

The Right Palm Harbor Auto Accident Lawyer For You

For over 20 years, David A. Papa has been helping families in his community get the settlement they need. He can help you too. Take your first steps forward and contact us at Papa Injury Law for your free consultation.

get a free consultation

You’ve gotten to know us a little better – now tell us about how we can help you. If you’ve sustained an injury or been in an accident, don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation with us to learn about your options.

Areas We Serve