If you've been in an accident in Florida, knowing what to do afterward can help protect your health, your finances, and your legal rights. The legal team at TWWHB is here to help answer your questions and help you down the road to recovery.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Florida: 4 Simple Steps
- Report the accident to law enforcement and collect important details as soon as possible. This includes things like license plate numbers, insurance information, contact information, and road conditions at the scene.
- Seek medical attention right away, even for minor personal injuries. This ensures you get proper medical treatment and preserves your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which is required in Florida car insurance policies.
- Notify your insurance company promptly to begin the insurance claims process. When dealing with the insurance adjuster, be careful about giving a recorded statement and avoid sharing accident details on your social media accounts. These steps help prevent issues when you file a claim.
- Consult an attorney before accepting an insurance company settlement. An experienced Florida car accident lawyer can handle communications, guide you through the claims process, and make sure your rights are protected after a Florida car accident.
Speak to a Florida Car Accident Attorney:
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What To Do After A Car Accident in Florida: A Complete Guide
This guide is here to walk you through those chaotic first minutes at the scene, the crucial decisions you need to make in the next hours and days, and the steps that can protect your health, your rights, and your finances after a Florida car accident. We'll break it all down in plain language, so you're not trying to figure everything out in the dark.
At The Scene Of The Accident:
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Make sure the scene is safe
The first concern is for the safety of everyone involved in the car crash. Take stock of yourself and the other people on the scene to assess injuries and make sure the surroundings are safe. Move damaged vehicles to the side of the road if you're still in heavy traffic. -
Call the police
Even if the crash seems minor, contact the police (9-1-1) and wait for them to arrive. Having a police report in hand will make it easier to work with your insurance company later. If anyone appears to be injured, ask for paramedics when you call the police. Whatever you do, do not leave the crash scene without contacting the local police.
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Exchange information with the other parties
Exchange phone numbers, contact information, and insurance information with the other party involved. Make sure you also document the other person's driver's license and license plate numbers. If the driver is not the owner of the car, note the car's make, model, and color. If there are witnesses on the scene, get their names and contact information, as well. Comprehensive witness statements will streamline the process of filing an insurance claim. As you speak with the other party, keep the conversation brief and constructive. Avoid anger or admitting fault, as this may harm your case down the road.
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Document the evidence
Use your phone to snap some pictures of the crash scene. Photograph any damage to your car and the other vehicle involved. Also, be sure to document injuries and any damage to the surrounding scene, such as trees and road features. Here is a guide to help you document the scene after a car accident.
Once you have gathered other evidence at the scene, preserve and save that information as well and back it up. This may prove to be crucial evidence later to ensure you are able to fight an insurance company that is trying to wrongfully show you caused the accident, your injuries were not caused by the accident, or your injuries are not as severe as they are so that they can deny your auto accident claim.
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Contact your insurance company
Filing a claim can take a long time, so it's smart to start the process as quickly as possible. If you use an insurance company that offers a mobile app, start the claims process at the scene.
After You Leave The Accident:
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Seek medical treatment
Now is not the time to be a hero. If you are in pain or there is any question in your mind immediately after the accident that you have suffered some kind of injury, do not avoid seeking medical help out of pride, fear or inconvenience. Getting you back walking, driving and working is the most important thing and early treatment ensures you the best recovery possible as injuries can worsen over time if not treated.
As soon as you feel any pain or suspect you have suffered some kind of injury as a result of the car accident seek medical help as soon as possible. Waiting to treat your injuries can severely limit your legal rights as insurance companies often try to argue the fact that you did not seek medical help at all, or sooner, shows your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
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Document expenses and lost time from work
Auto accidents will often make your day-to-day life more complicated, painful and costly, particularly if you were injured. You may need to go to the hospital, to the doctor, to rehab, taking time out of your normal routine to devote to your physical recovery. You may have out-of-pocket expenses like co-pays and gas to/from doctor's visits. You will likely have to miss time from work if you are unable to perform your job until you recover or if you have to undergo treatment, surgery, rehab, follow-up appointments, etc.
You may also have to hire out services you typically could perform yourself but you no longer can because of the accident, such as paying someone to mow your grass, help clean the house or assist with child care. Documenting and maintaining receipts and records of these expenses will go a long way toward ensuring you obtain full recovery from the insurance company that has a duty to pay these costs.
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Speak to a Florida car accident lawyer
If you were injured during your car accident, the road to recovery can be a long one. Secure the representation you need by hiring one of our experienced personal injury lawyers in Pensacola. Here at Taylor, Warren, Weidner, Hancock & Barnes, our team will review your car accident case, help you navigate insurance, and ensure you get the claim you need to heal and move on with your life.
Speak to a Florida Car Accident Attorney:
Request a Free Case Evaluation
Pro Tip: Always contact an attorney before accepting an insurance settlement.
Contact a Florida car accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident—and always before accepting an insurance settlement. Insurance companies may ask you for multiple verbal statements, hoping you will give conflicting answers. They may also ask you for financial or medical records to show that your injury is not as serious as you say it is, or to suggest that you caused the accident.
The car accident lawyers at TWWHB stand ready to advise you about your rights; always consult our team before providing any documents, statements or other information to an insurance company. Our job is to make sure your claim for damages and your legal rights are protected—but we can only protect you if you call us first!