Being in a car collision in Homestead, Hollywood, Miami, or any South Florida community can affect your life for years to come. Our legal team at Flaxman Law Group has seen many drivers whose lives have been permanently changed after a back injury, head injury, or other serious harm sustained in a car accident.
Often, clients who come to us after a car accident wonder if they did everything they could have after their crash. Here are some things you will want to do after your collision to protect yourself and your rights.
Stay calm
Try to temper your emotions so you can avoid a confrontation and so you can pay attention and remember more. Try to stay calm and evaluate the situation, including any possibly serious injuries.
Pay attention to your words
Even innocent words such as “I’m sorry this happened” can be used against you. Avoid talking about what caused an accident, who was at fault, or any details. Instead, focus on determining if anyone needs emergency medical help and exchange insurance information with the other driver involved.
Get medical help
If you or anyone else at the scene could have hit their head or may have sustained serious injuries, call for emergency help. Otherwise, get a medical evaluation soon after your collision to rule out soft tissue injuries and other, more subtle forms of injuries.
Getting medical attention soon after your collision can help you get the treatment you need to make the best possible recovery. It can also help a doctor link your injuries to the crash, so you have documentation of your injuries and their cause.
Get the information you need
Even if you’re not sure whether you will file a claim, get plenty of documentation. Take note of any security cameras at the site of the accident and write down everything you can remember as soon as you can after the crash.
Get contact information of anyone who may have seen what happened. Take photos of the area where the collision took place and take photos of your injuries and car. If you have damaged your phone or other personal property, keep these items.
In general, keep as much information as you can about the accident, the injuries, the expenses you’ve faced after your accident. This can help your attorney prove how much your injuries may cost.
Of course, if you’re seriously injured you may be rushed to the hospital and may not be able to take photos or get other information at the scene. Don’t worry. Focus on your healing and just start gathering information and documentation when you can.
Report the accident
If the other driver could be drunk, has left the scene of the accident, or if you suspect a crime has taken place, contact the police. You’ll also want to call the police if anyone is seriously injured.
You will need to report the accident to your insurance company. Don’t let another driver convince you to not report an accident and just resolve it between yourself. This makes you very vulnerable. That driver can go straight to police and claim you left the scene of the accident, leaving you open to a legal claim. When you report the accident, you have a way of showing you have followed the law after the crash.
Contact a Florida car collision claims attorney
If you make a claim with your insurance company, your insurer will offer you a specific amount for your injuries. This amount may not always cover all your losses, and while you can negotiate the offer many drivers prefer to leave this process to a Florida car crash attorney, who has experience securing compensation.
In fact, the sooner you contact an attorney after your car crash the sooner your attorney can start taking steps to prove your case, find liable parties, and protect your rights. If you’d like to speak to an attorney, you can reach Flaxman Law Group 24/7 at 866-352-9626. Book a free, obligation-free accident consultation with an attorney who can review your situation with you.