When you get into a car crash in Florida, the shock of the collision can make it challenging to think about the things you need to do immediately following the accident. However, acting quickly after a car accident can protect your rights to seek compensation for your injuries and property damage. Steps you should take immediately following a car crash in Florida include:
Call 911 or the Police to Report the Accident
Drivers should call 911 to summon emergency services if someone requires medical attention. If no one needs medical assistance, they should contact the local police or the Florida Highway Patrol to report the car accident. Reporting the accident to law enforcement ensures that drivers receive a police accident report, which typically serves as crucial evidence in car accident cases. Insurers also frequently request police accident reports when car accident victims file claims.
Gather Information at the Scene
Following a car crash, you should make sure to obtain the contact, license, vehicle, and insurance information for the other drivers involved in the accident. Furthermore, you can talk to eyewitnesses to the crash to obtain their contact information or a brief statement. If possible, use your cell phone to take photos or videos of essential details of the accident scene, such as:
- Vehicle damage
- Property damage
- Visible injuries
- Skid marks on the road
- Road lines
- Traffic signs or signals
- Lighting conditions
- Weather conditions
- Road conditions
- Visual obstructions
Seek Medical Attention Promptly
After a car accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you do not have visible injuries or feel pain. Many car accident injuries, such as whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, or soft tissue injuries, may not manifest symptoms for several hours or days after a car crash. However, medical personnel can identify many injuries in a physical exam or through imaging. Promptly treating injuries can help strengthen evidence of the link between the accident and the injuries and avoid arguments that you failed to mitigate your injuries by not seeking timely treatment.
Notify Your Insurance Company
You should report the crash to your insurance provider as soon as possible. Florida operates a “no-fault” insurance system that requires you to seek reimbursement for medical expenses or lost wages from your auto insurance policy’s personal injury protection coverage first before you can file a legal claim against an at-fault driver. Under the 14-day rule, you must seek medical care within 14 days of an accident to preserve your eligibility for PIP benefits. Furthermore, your auto insurance policy may require you to report an accident to the insurer within a specific period after a crash to maintain eligibility for other coverage, such as collision or uninsured/underinsured coverage.
Avoid Common Mistakes
You should also avoid making common mistakes that could jeopardize a subsequent injury claim. Frequent errors that car accident victims make after a crash include:
- Admitting fault for the accident or making statements that may seem like an admission of fault, such as offering an apology or saying “I didn’t see you”
- Delaying medical attention or treatment
- Discussing the accident with family members or friends, or posting on social media, especially while undergoing treatment for disabling injuries
Contact a Florida Car Accident Attorney
Finally, you should speak to a Florida car accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss the circumstances of the crash and learn about your legal options for seeking compensation for expenses or losses arising from your injuries or property damage.
Contact Hutch Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a car accident attorney to learn more about the steps you should take after getting hurt or sustaining property damage in a crash in Florida.