Maitland Car Accident Lawyer

The accident is over, but the decisions you make next determine everything—the strength of your case, the amount of compensation you receive, and whether the insurance company gets away with shortchanging you.

The problem? Most people don’t realize how much they can damage their own claim without even knowing it.

Insurance companies love victims who make mistakes. A missed doctor’s appointment, a casual post on social media, an offhand comment to an adjuster—each one is an opportunity for them to pay you less.

Follow Medical Advice As if Your Case Depends on It (Because It Does)

A lot of accident injuries don’t show up immediately. Adrenaline masks pain, and some conditions—like concussions, internal bleeding, or herniated discs—take days or even weeks to fully surface.

That’s why insurance companies watch medical records like hawks, looking for gaps in treatment they can use against you.

• Go to every appointment – If a doctor recommends physical therapy, don’t skip sessions. Missed appointments give insurers an excuse to argue you aren’t really hurt.
• Follow prescriptions exactly – If a doctor prescribes pain management or rehabilitation, document it. Stopping treatment early hurts both your recovery and your case.
• Get a second opinion if necessary – If something feels off, see a specialist. Insurance companies love dismissing injuries as “not serious”—until an MRI or neurological test proves otherwise.

Keep Every Receipt and Document Everything

Insurance adjusters will question every expense. If you don’t have a receipt, they act like it never happened.

Keep a file—digital or physical—for everything related to your accident:

• Medical bills – Hospital visits, physical therapy, prescriptions, medical devices—every single expense matters.
• Car repair estimates – Mechanics don’t always include future repair costs in initial estimates, so make sure to get a full damage assessment.
• Pay stubs and income records – If you miss work, prove what you would have earned without the accident. Lost wages include salary, bonuses, freelance work, and self-employment income.
• Receipts for out-of-pocket expenses – Ubers to doctor appointments, over-the-counter medications, even the gas money spent driving to medical visits—all of it counts.

Write Down What You Remember While It’s Fresh

Memory fades fast. What seems clear right after the crash becomes fuzzy after weeks of dealing with insurance calls and medical visits.

A detailed personal record keeps your claim accurate and consistent.

• Write a detailed account – Date, time, weather, traffic conditions, and everything you remember about the crash itself.
• Log daily pain and symptoms – If your back hurt two days after the accident but wasn’t sore at first, write it down. Insurance companies argue that delayed symptoms aren’t accident-related unless they’re documented.
• Track emotional and mental health changes – Anxiety, trouble sleeping, PTSD-like symptoms—these aren’t just side effects. They’re part of your claim.

Avoid Social Media

Insurance adjusters stalk accident victims online.

They’re looking for anything to contradict your claim, even completely normal activities.

• Posting a smiling photo? They’ll argue you aren’t really suffering.
• Mentioning a weekend trip? They’ll claim your injuries aren’t serious.
• Joking about the accident? They’ll say you aren’t traumatized.

Even private posts aren’t safe. Insurers subpoena social media records in lawsuits, and Florida courts allow social media evidence in personal injury cases.

The best move? Stay off social media until your case closes.

Get a Copy of the Police Report

Insurance companies treat police reports as evidence, but they don’t always reflect the full story.

Officers make mistakes, miss details, or rely on biased witness statements.

• Request a copy immediately – In Florida, police reports become available within 10 days of the accident. (Fla. Stat. § 316.066)
• Review it for errors – If something is inaccurate—like a missing witness statement or incorrect traffic violation—it can be challenged.
• Use it to strengthen your case – If the report supports your version of events, it’s a powerful tool. If not, witness statements, surveillance footage, or accident reconstructions may be needed.

Never Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company

Adjusters act like they just want to hear your side of the story.

What they really want is to catch you slipping up—contradicting yourself, downplaying injuries, or saying something that lets them reduce your payout.

• Anything you say is evidence – Even innocent comments get twisted. Saying “I’m fine” in casual conversation gets used to argue you aren’t injured.
• Stick to the facts – If you must speak with an adjuster, keep answers short, direct, and factual.
• Let your lawyer handle it – Once a lawyer steps in, insurance companies can’t contact you directly anymore.

Don’t Accept the First Settlement Offer

Insurance companies expect you to be overwhelmed, desperate, and eager to move on.

Their first offer is always low, designed to make you think you’re getting a fair deal when, in reality, it’s nowhere near what you deserve.

• They don’t include future expenses – The first check never accounts for long-term medical care, therapy, or complications.
• They hope you don’t know the full value of your case – Non-economic damages—pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life—aren’t included unless you fight for them.
• Once you sign, you can’t ask for more – Settlements close the case permanently. Accepting too soon leaves you stuck paying for anything the settlement didn’t cover.