10 Key Steps After a Car Accident
1
Call 911. Try to stay as calm as possible. Take a deep breath and check yourself and any
passengers for injuries before attempting to get out of your car. Call 911 from your cellphone immediately. If you believe anyone sustained something worse than minor injuries, do not move them unless it is necessary to get them out of harm’s way.
2
Move to safety. If you are able, move your car out of the way of oncoming traffic to reduce the chance of another crash that could cause more injuries. Using caution, get yourself and any passengers out of the vehicle and as far away from traffic as possible if remaining in the vehicle would be dangerous.
3
Exchange information. Secure as much information as you can from the other drivers involved in the accident. You should at least get their names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and auto insurance information.
4
Call the police and cooperate with law enforcement. Be sure to honestly answer questions from the law enforcement officers who respond to the accident and create the accident report. But you should not admit fault or provide more details than what you are asked. The time after of a crash is very chaotic, and you almost certainly do not have all of the information needed to make a proper determination of fault.
5
Talk to witnesses and get photos. Check to see if anyone witnessed the crash, if you are able to do so. Get names and contact information from any witnesses. Using your cell phone camera or any other available camera, take photos of the accident scene, the damage to the vehicles, your injuries, the road conditions and anything else that might be valuable. Take photos from different angles and get as many pictures as you can. Ask a friend or someone on the scene to take pictures for you if you are unable to do it yourself.
6
Get medical help. Now is not the time to act tough. Get the medical treatment you need, including transportation to the hospital by ambulance if necessary. If you are not transported directly from the scene of the accident to a hospital, go to an emergency room, urgent care center or your family doctor for a complete medical examination as soon as you can. Some injuries do not show signs or symptoms immediately but could become serious, even life threatening. Tell the doctor that you were involved in a car crash and list all of your symptoms, even the ones that may seem minor to you.
7
Notify your insurer. Report the crash to your insurance company and the companies that cover the other driver or drivers as soon as you are able. Be careful when you talk to the insurance companies – even your own. You should avoid giving any type of recorded or written account of the accident without the advice of a car accident lawyer.
8
Get help from a lawyer as soon as you can. If you were hurt in the crash, you should contact an experienced Florida car accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident. Beware that the other driver’s insurance company may try to settle your claim process quickly and cheaply before you have gotten help from an attorney. Don’t fall for this tactic. Even if the settlement offer looks good, it is almost certainly less than you deserve. Get advice from a qualified personal injury lawyer before signing any settlement agreement, otherwise you could sign away money that you are entitled to.
9
Follow through with all medical treatments. Make sure to follow up with all doctor’s appointments and medical treatments that your healthcare providers order for you. Failing to do so could cause your injuries to become more severe and could hurt your ability to recover fair compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
10
Write a journal about your recovery. Be sure to write down how the accident has affected your daily life – including your pain and emotional struggles – by making notes each day. Not only is this therapeutic, but it can also go a long way toward proving the emotional impact that the accident had on you when it comes time to negotiate or litigate the pain and suffering portion of your settlement or verdict.
Call Our Palm Coast Car Accident Lawyers
If another driver caused your accident and injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Call our firm or contact us using our online form to arrange for a consultation with our experienced Palm Coast personal injury lawyer.
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, our law firm is dedicated to protecting your rights and aggressively pursuing the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive.
Car Accident FAQs
- Report the accident to the proper authority.
- Do not admit fault, and take note of any parties who do admit fault.
- Do not make any statements about the accident to anyone other than your doctor or lawyer.
- Make note of any details that may help prove your case (such as, road conditions, actions of the other parties).
- Take names and contact information of all parties involved, and any witnesses who may help you prove your case.
- Take photographs of all vehicles in the accident (before repair), and of any injuries incurred.
- Seek medical attention and describe all injuries and complaints.
- Contact Chiumento Law, PLLC, regarding your rights as an accident victim.
Every motor vehicle accident case is different, and subsequently every motor vehicle accident recovery is different. Accident victims typically have a right to recover for expenses related to their medical bills, lost wages, severe injuries, and pain and suffering. Beware of any attorney who promises specific dollar amounts, or results.
Many different factors can have an impact on who is at fault in a motor vehicle accident and to what extent. That is why it is extremely important to follow the steps above and to contact an experienced attorney immediately to help prove your case. Even if you may be partially at fault, do not make any statements, and contact an attorney, you still may be entitled to a recovery.
Our attorneys have experience in many different areas of litigation that involve personal injury and property damage, including:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Boating accidents
- Uninsured, or under insured accidents
- DUI accidents
If you have been involved in any type of motor vehicle accident and feel that you may have a legitimate claim for a recovery, contact our office for a free consultation to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys.
We always offer a free consultation to discuss your case, and do not charge any fees unless we win you a recovery. Our fees will be based on a percentage of your recovery.
The litigation process is different for every auto accident case and can sometimes take 8-12 months to reach conclusion. Some cases go to trial, and some end in a settlement, and other factors relating to the specific details of the case determine to process and length of the case. One of our experienced attorneys will go over the likely course of action with you during your free consultation.