Following a car accident, there are several steps you can take to help protect your physical, mental, and financial well-being. A car accident can have devastating effects on your life. However, you can minimize the damage by taking appropriate action at the scene and in the days following the crash.
At Winston Law, we have a long history of helping car accident victims in Florida recover the compensation they need and deserve. Our team of experienced Sunrise car accident lawyers is ready and waiting to help you get the money you deserve. Contact us by phone or through our website to get started with a free consultation today.
Check the Health of Everyone on the Scene
Following a car accident, one of the first steps to take is to check if anyone needs medical attention. You should first thoroughly check yourself to identify whether or not you have suffered any serious injuries. It is critical that you do a thorough check, as the adrenaline may mask any pain caused by an injury.
If you have severe injuries, you should call an ambulance if you are able and wait for help to arrive. However, if you are uninjured or only have minor injuries, you need to check on the other involved parties. Start by checking on any passengers in your own vehicle, then proceed to check on any others involved in the crash.
If anyone requires immediate assistance, call 9-1-1 and follow the instructions of the emergency operator as you wait for a medical professional to arrive on the scene.
Report the Accident
Even if nobody appears to have suffered any serious injuries, you will still need to call the police to report the accident. Filing an accident report with law enforcement is critical. Failure to do so could harm your ability to recover compensation for pain and suffering and any other losses you suffer.
Furthermore, by not reporting the accident, you could open yourself up to legal action taken against you by another involved party. An accurate account of the accident given at the scene where the police officer can note any relevant details and serve as a witness in court can be critical.
In most cases, the law requires that an accident report be filed. Even if the accident is minor, you could face legal issues if you fail to report your crash.
Collect Evidence
Another important step to take at an accident scene is to gather as much information as possible. If you are not too injured, you should take pictures of the involved vehicles as well as the surrounding area, taking note of any factors that may have contributed to the accident.
Additionally, you should speak with any potential witnesses to collect their contact information. You will also need to exchange insurance information with the at-fault driver. However, you should avoid any additional conversation. Even an innocent-seeming comment can be twisted to seem like an admission of liability.
Every bit of evidence you can collect will make it easier for your lawyer to build a strong case on your behalf.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you believe that you did not sustain any serious injuries, you need to seek medical attention after a car accident. Adrenaline can mask some injuries initially, while others take time to fully develop. In addition to being checked at the scene of the accident, you should also go to the hospital to get a more thorough examination.
Delays in seeking medical attention can make it far more difficult to recover the compensation through a court ruling or out-of-court settlement. The other party can sow doubt about the origin of your injuries, claiming that they were not caused by the accident but by an unrelated incident.
Inform Your Insurer
Even if you are going to be pursuing a personal injury lawsuit or filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider, you will still need to inform your own insurer of the crash.
You don’t need to go into great detail about the accident, and, in most cases, your insurance rate will not be affected as long as you can show that the other party was responsible.
Hire a Car Accident Attorney
Finally, you will need to secure the services of an experienced car accident attorney. While you can technically file a lawsuit or pursue an insurance claim on your own, you are unlikely to recover nearly as much money as you would if you were to hire an attorney. Even after paying your lawyer’s fee, you will likely end up with far more money than you would get on your own.
At Winston Law, we have helped countless car accident victims recover the compensation they need and deserve. Our team has a proven track record of securing favorable compensation for our clients for over 30 years. As a small firm, we can help ensure your case gets the personal attention it needs.
While most car accident cases end up settling out of court, we will never shy away from taking your case to court if necessary to get you the money you deserve. Contact us today by phone or through our website to schedule a free case review with a member of our legal team today.
