If you have been in a car accident in the Sunshine State, there are several steps that you should take as soon as you can. For example, Florida Statute 316.062 means that you must give your contact and personal information to a police officer and the other driver. If there are no cops present and the other party cannot take your information, you are required to self-report the incident to law enforcement.

Steps To Take After a Car Accident

There are some steps you can take after a motor vehicle collision to ensure that you and your car accident claim are protected:

• Call the police to report the accident: This should always be your first step if possible, especially if there are any injuries. Never leave the scene, and try to get your vehicle off the road if it is blocking traffic. It’s vital that you get an official crash report that indicates that an officer has investigated the scene. This report will help you when you file an insurance settlement or personal injury lawsuit. Always request a copy of the accident report.
• Seek medical treatment: If you or the people riding with you were injured, it’s crucial that you wait for emergency personnel to treat you. Even if you think you feel fine or only have slight pain, you may just be experiencing adrenaline shock, which will wear off in a few hours. Going to the Emergency Room allows doctors to take x-rays and MRIs to check for traumatic brain injury, internal organ damage, whiplash, and more.
• Document as much as you can: For example, take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and any damage. It’s good to document the day’s conditions, the direction each vehicle was coming from, the traffic, debris, and even weather. You can use all of this to help build your case.
• Get everyone’s contact information: This goes hand-in-hand with documenting as much as you can. If there are witnesses, get their names, phone numbers, addresses, emails, etc., so that your personal injury attorney can reach out to them. You may want to take pictures of license plates and any other information that seems to be necessary.
• Call your insurance company: You must report your car accident to your insurance company, even if you are not at fault. It’s essential that you are careful with what you tell them. Insurance providers don’t like handing out large financial settlements, and they may try to deny or underpay you when making an initial offer. Even your own insurance company might attempt to use anything you say against you so they can limit the amount you are owed. Try to speak with a professional personal injury attorney before communicating with anyone else. They will give you advice on how to talk with all parties involved in the car accident. Since Florida is a no-fault state, you will need to seek compensation from your insurance company first. If the damages exceed the insurance limits, there are other steps your attorney can take under Florida law.
• Never accept the first offer or sign anything from insurance companies: An insurance company will often try to make an offer very quickly. This is before you can realise the true extent of your injuries and damages. By the time you realise you were not compensated fairly, it is too late to go back. By signing and accepting payment, you are waiving your right for more. Therefore, it is in your best interests that you do not sign any release that the insurance company sends to you before speaking with your car accident lawyer.
• Never accept fault or blame: It is only human to try to be kind and accommodating, but never admit responsibility when it comes to car accidents. Car accidents can happen in a matter of seconds, and your understanding of the events may not even be correct. Until you understand what truly happened, you should never tell anyone that the accident was your fault. Your words could come back and be used against you. Let experienced investigators determine what happened and who is responsible first.

If you are in an accident and need to secure a crashed vehicle, a vehicle stabilisation v-strut is an instant way to safely brace a car or van.

Call Your Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents can be confusing and scary. Trying to recover and move on with your life can be difficult on your own.

If you have been in a car accident that is not your fault, let a personal injury attorney help you through each step of the process.

You could also contact the Myrtle Beach office of Jebaily Law for assistance.