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The first step you should take if in an auto accident is to call the police and make a police report. This is important for future documentation as the other driver can sometimes remember things differently or forget key details.
Getting immediate medical help is also important, even if you can’t feel any pain at first. This will help you secure prompt documentation of any injuries and will allow you to follow up with doctors if the pain becomes noticeable days or weeks later.
This also holds true if facing an accident with an uninsured driver; call the police, get official documentation of the accident, take photos of the property damage and scene, and seek medical attention right away.
Immediately call the police, seek medical attention, and call a trusted personal injury law firm. This will help not only document the accident but also get you and your loved one on the right path toward compensation and recovery. There’s no need to suffer or lose out needlessly because of another driver’s negligence.
While you are not legally obligated to file a police report, it’s something that you should still do to protect yourself. Other people involved in the accident can change their story, remember things differently, or deny responsibility. Having official and immediate police documentation of the accident can go a long way in securing key evidence.
Insurance companies also rely heavily on police reports to get a sense of the accident, though they usually do this with the intention of settling for low numbers. Still, police reports are quite useful in helping determine where you were going, the time of the accident, weather conditions, and who was with you. All of this can be key in building a case.
It’s important to take photos of the vehicles involved. Photos of damage done and video evidence filmed with your cell phone are very helpful. Gathering witness information, as well as their names, numbers, and addresses, is also crucial. This is especially helpful in cases where collisions occur during turns, as drivers can often misunderstand traffic signals.
What about other video evidence? Surveillance videos are often not available without a subpoena, though some store owners may release video of a crash if you request it. Dash cam evidence is also extremely helpful, and if you have such footage, be sure to hold onto it.
Be sure to exchange names, contact information, and insurance information with the other driver, too. The Fenstersheib Law Group also has a helpful app called “Tell Robert” that can be used to immediately document accident scene photos, jot down notes about the event, and submit this data directly to the Law Firm.
The more information you collect, the better your ability to protect your rights and claim appropriate damages.
Absolutely. Pain and injuries from a car accident often manifest days or weeks later. In the aftermath of a car accident, your adrenaline will be coursing, and your nerves will be on edge, making it more difficult for your nervous system to properly register pain.
Make sure to see a doctor for an initial visit and to document any immediate injuries or pain. This also allows you to check back in with this doctor later should pain become obvious in the following days. The stream of documentation is important in helping connect your pain and injuries back to the original accident, and serves as further formal evidence of the accident itself.
Yes. Many people involved in car accidents don’t realize that fault is just half of the claim. The other half involves your pain and suffering, which a settlement will help address. Insurance carriers tend to take the simplest, fastest, and cheapest way out.
Hiring an attorney will help protect you from a low-ball, unfair insurance payout. These low payouts don’t consider the full cost of immediate and future medical expenses, lost wages, or emotional suffering.
Trying to negotiate alone won’t get you the results you need. An experienced and diligent law firm understands how to deal with insurance companies, can negotiate deftly, and will fight for the economic and emotional damages that you truly deserve.
It’s common to be frightened, jittery, and confused after a car accident. And in the aftermath of an accident, it can be helpful to have a clear-headed, calm legal professional to talk to. Someone who understands the pain and confusion of a car accident and has the know-how and compassion to walk you through the legal process step by step.
Don’t simply trust the insurance companies to treat your case fairly – and don’t face a car accident claim alone. Allow a seasoned and attentive law firm to help you collect and preserve evidence, document your injuries, and make sure that everything is in place to help you get a successful settlement.
For more information on Steps You’ll Need To Take After A Car Accident In Florida, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling 954-456-2488 today.