5 Things You SHOULD Do After Getting Injured In A Florida Car Accident

In our last blog post, we wrote about the things that you shouldn’t do after getting injured in a Florida car accident. Now that you know about what actions to avoid, here is a list of steps that you should actively take to preserve your legal rights and well-being. Acting wisely can maximize your claim and ensure the smoothest path to recovery!

Do Seek Medical Attention

Seeking medical attention should always be your first priority after suffering an injury in a car accident, even if you don’t “feel” severely injured or believe you can wait. It is in your best interest, both legally and medically. From a medical standpoint, you can have severe or even life-threatening injuries such as internal bleeding and not even realize it if you don’t get medical care right away. You can also inadvertently do things that could make your injuries worse (as is often the case with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or spinal cord injuries (SCIs).  If the paramedics at the scene recommend you go to the emergency department via ambulance, you should listen to them; even if they don’t, you should get a full medical exam as soon as possible. 

Legally, obtaining medical attention after getting injured in a Florida car accident will increase your chances at recovering fair damages. When you see a doctor and have your symptoms and problems documented and diagnosed, you get it on record for future use by the insurance company, your lawyer, and the courts so everyone is clear on to the exact extent of your injuries – and the  insurance company doesn’t have any excuse to deny liability. Suppose you are in a car accident and wait two weeks to see a doctor who diagnoses you with two slipped discs. You know that you haven’t had other incidents or injuries and that the slipped discs were caused by the car accident. However, since you waited two weeks to seek care, the insurance company will likely argue that your injuries are from something else that happened after the car accident, and you will be unable to prove them wrong because there is no documentation to back your assertion up.

Do Report The Accident To Law Enforcement

Even if your car accident seems minor, it’s imperative that you make a police report. Call law enforcement so they can respond to the scene, observe it for themselves, talk to any witnesses and all involved parties, and document any evidence supporting your claim. If you don’t call the police right away, either because you don’t believe it’s necessary or the other party begs you not to for insurance reasons, it could come back to haunt you later; waiting to document the accident can give the false impression that what happened to you isn’t that big of a deal, or even allow the other party to give a conflicting report that there is no way of corroborating or disproving.

Do Exchange Information With The Other Driver 

If you are physically able to do so, exchange information with the other driver(s) involved in the accident (before the police arrive or while the police are there). Obtain as much information as possible. It can be helpful to take pictures of the other driver’s license, insurance card, and vehicle registration when possible. This way, you don’t have to write everything down, and the information can be stored electronically on your phone. 

No matter how you do it, be sure to collect the following information from the other driver involved:

• name
• address
• cell phone number
• email address
• driver’s license number
• license plate numbers
• their auto insurance company name and policy number(s)

Exchanging information with other motorists is essential for two reasons:

• to file an insurance claim with your insurance adjuster
• to seek compensation from the auto insurance company of the at-fault driver

If there are any witnesses to the accident, exchanging information with them is usually helpful. Even though they weren’t directly involved, having another party attest to your version of events may be invaluable if the at-fault driver or their insurance carrier is uncooperative. Your Florida car accident lawyer may contact them later on, to request a formal recorded statement to provide to the at-fault party’s insurance company as evidence for your claim.

Do Gather Evidence When Possible

Depending on how badly you are injured in a Florida car accident, you may or may be unable to take pictures or videos at the accident scene, but if you are able to, you should do so. Take pictures and videos of all involved vehicles from various angles, the road, traffic, and weather conditions, as well as anything else that might have played a role in the accident, which can help your attorney’s investigation. 

You can also take pictures of your injuries and write down your own account of how the accident occurred. Keeping an injury recovery journal can also serve as evidence to support the extent of your injuries and the long, painful recovery you have endured while missing out on your everyday life and the things and activities you used to enjoy.

Do Hire A Seasoned Florida Car Accident Lawyer

As we mentioned, you don’t want to handle your car accident claim on your own. However, you don’t want just any lawyer to handle it, either. You want an experienced attorney who isn’t afraid to stand up to large entities, insurance companies, or the insurance company’s attorneys. At The Florida Law Group, we collectively have over 100 years of experience in personal injury law and 40 years together as a firm. We have recovered over $1 billion dollars in compensation for our clients! Our attorneys are well-versed in Florida’s personal injury laws, and we know how to prove negligence and damages in your case. 

In addition, our founding attorney Chris Limberopoulos, is a Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist through the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Only 1 percent of all lawyers can claim this distinction. He has been awarded the honor of Florida Super Lawyer since 2008. Our firm is also listed in the Best Lawyers in America® publication.

Remembering all the dos and don’ts after a car accident can be a job in itself. Thankfully, when you hire our seasoned Florida car accident attorneys after being injured in a Florida car accident, they can help ensure you are doing what you need to do and avoiding what you shouldn’t be doing to preserve the full value of your claim. 

At Florida Law Group, case consultations are always free, and we only work on contingency fees. Contact us today or contact us online to schedule your  no-obligation case review and learn more!