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Injured in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, or Tampa, but live out of State?

The mild weather, beautiful beaches which grace Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties draw many visitors and winter residents. All too often, an enjoyable vacation is ruined due to an injury involving a fall, car wreck, pedestrian accident, dog bite or a being hit by falling objects in a store. When an accident occurs to someone who lives out of state, how can their claim be pursued?

Each person's specific situation will vary. Some people are here for a few days, others remain for an entire season. Regardless, you may very easily recover for your injury even if you return to your home state.

Doing the following will improve the odds of you successfully recovering for your case:

1. If you are injured in a fall or on someone's property, make sure they are notified as soon as possible of your injury and what caused it. Take note of the date, time and name of the person notified. The police should be notified and a report prepared for a vehicle accident or dog bite.

2. Document the scene. Photographs of what caused your fault or injury on someone's property are enormously important. Photographs of an accident scene capture conditions which are difficult to explain or to demonstrate later. Many things about an accident scene change rapidly after someone has been injured.

3. Obtain the identity of any witnesses. Do not assume the property owner or police officer will do this adequately or at all.

4. Seek medical care you reasonably believe you need at the earliest opportunity. Care may be had at an emergency room or walk-in clinic. If you do not have access to a regular doctor.

5. Make sure your description of your accident to a health care provider is accurate and truthful. Describing such things as what caused you to fall, what fell on you, the speed and intensity of a vehicle crash, or how an animal attack occurred should be thoughtfully made.

6. Pursue follow-up care without unnecessary delay. Needed medical care does not have to be undertaken in Florida. Medical treatment may be obtained in Florida before you leave or undertaken when you return home. However, delays in obtaining follow-up care can harm your case. Claims adjusters believe that a gap in treatment means no treatment was necessary. Waiting weeks between treatments often harms an otherwise good case.

7. Obtain an experienced personal injury lawyer in the area of where your accident occurred who is knowledgeable of the legal requirements needed to pursue your claim. This removes the burdens of dealing with an insurance adjuster from you and allows you to focus on obtaining medical care you need to allow your recovery, even if you return home. Your lawyer will handle the details of insuring the accident scene is adequately investigated and documented, in addition to dealing with the other party's insurance company on your behalf. Once your medical care is completed, your lawyer will be ready to move forward to resolve your claim. Having a lawyer, whose practice is in the area where your accident occurred, gives your claim much greater credibility in the eyes of a claims adjuster. This is particularly true when you have a lawyer the claims adjuster knows is willing and able to pursue litigation on your behalf if that becomes necessary. On the other hand, if you hire a lawyer in the town where you live out of state, a Florida claims adjuster will know that lawyer is not able to pursue a lawsuit on your behalf. That knowledge will diminish what the insurance company will pay to get your claims settled.

You are welcome to request a free copy of my helpful consumer guides on accident cases:

Five Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Auto Accident Case available at www.FloridaAutoAccidentBook.com

Dangerous Trips to Avoid in Your Fall Case available at www.TheFloridaInsuranceBook.com

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