How You Should React to a Florida Car Accident
Being involved in a car accident in the Sunshine State can be a stressful experience and that’s before considering the possible aftermath of extensive property damage and serious injuries. Just being present at the scene of the accident can mean having to deal with multiple experiences that you never contemplated before leaving your previous destination. For example, statistics published by the National Safety Council indicate that in 2018, there were more than 500 motor vehicle accident injuries per hour.
No one likes becoming involved in a car accident but if you find yourself in this position, it is imperative that you understand what you should do next to help protect yourself and anyone else who may have possibly been injured.
Understand That There Are Deadlines
One of the first steps to undertake after any kind of car accident is to visit a medical professional who can evaluate the current state of your injuries. Even if you don’t immediately believe that you have been injured, obtaining medical help is imperative because time is of the essence when it comes to pursuing a personal injury claim. If you have the slightest suspicion that the accident resulted from someone else’s negligence, you should make a special effort to document everything that has occurred from snapping pictures of the scene of your injury to keeping up with the contact information of any witnesses who were present. In addition, you should also contact an experienced attorney to discuss your potential claim as soon as possible because the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Florida is only four years from the date of the injury.
What Should I Do if I am Involved in a Car Accident?
Immediately after the accident:
- Never admit fault and do not apologize
- Call 9-1-1 and report the accident
- Remain on the scene of the accident until authorities arrive
- Refuse to accept any cash settlement offers made at the scene
- Allow first responders to perform any emergency assistance you need
- Write down the name and contact information of any witnesses on the scene
- Take pictures and record video of the location of the accident and surrounding area
As time passes after the accident:
- Record your account of what happened. Take the time to write down your recollection of the accident as soon as you get home while your memory of the details is fresh.
- Don’t stop your medical treatment early. Regardless of how much you improve and how fully you think you have recovered, you should keep attending scheduled appointments and obtaining treatment until your medical providers explicitly tell you to stop.
- Monitor your proof. You should also store everything related to the accident in a location that you can control access to and keep others out of. This includes everything from your treatment records to medical bills and pay stubs.
Turn to Legal Help You Can Depend On
Whether you have questions about what to do after your accident or otherwise need legal assistance, you should turn to an attorney you can trust. As the Miami personal injury attorneys of the Pendas Law Firm, we can help you hold the negligent driver liable for injuries related to your accident. We have the legal knowledge and experience to help you maximize the value of your settlement or verdict in your personal injury case. Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Orlando, Ocala, Jacksonville, Bradenton, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach areas.
Resource:
injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/preventable-death-overview/minute-by-minute/data-details/
