Simply put, car accidents are scary! Because many people do not have experience with car accidents or injury claims, they do not know what to do after a car accident. At Barthelette Law, we have substantial experience with car accidents. Here’s what to do after a car accident. The full transcript is below.
What To Do When You Get In A Car Accident
After a car accident, there are several steps you should take to protect yourself and your legal rights. Here are four simple, actionable steps for what to do after a car accident.
Stay At The Scene And Call The Police
Importantly, stay at the scene! Do not let the other driver convince you to simply exchange numbers and leave the accident scene. Instead, call the police. The police will investigate the accident, note any injuries, and issue tickets if a driver violated traffic laws.
If you leave the accident scene without calling the police, it will become more difficult to document the car accident. Plus, the other driver may argue that you did not call the police because the accident was minor and no one was injured in an attempt to minimize the accident. Don’t let this happen!
So protect yourself: call the police and stay at the accident scene.
Take Pictures Of The Vehicles And Accident Scene
If you are physically able, take pictures of the vehicles and accident scene. If liability is later disputed, the photographs may help establish fault. Photographs of vehicle damage, skid marks, debris, and other evidence can be used to determine liability.
Further, parties often repair their vehicles shortly after accidents. So it can be difficult to obtain photographs of vehicle damage if photographs are not taken right away.
Get Medical Attention After The Car Accident
Get medical care as soon as possible. Often times, injuries do not manifest themselves right away or may seem minor. For example, spinal cord injuries and head trauma may not be readily apparent. Don’t make this mistake!
Get immediate medical care to rule out any serious injuries or trauma.
Call An Experienced Car Accident Attorney
In my experience, car accident clients often feel overwhelmed in the days and weeks following car accidents. This is normal. After a car accident, clients have to deal with medical care, medical bills, insurance claims, missed time from work, and other complicated issues.
A car accident attorney will help guide you through the issues so you can focus on your health and recovery. Indeed, many of my clients appreciate the fact that we have a game plan in place to address the host of issues following their car accident.
Barthelette Law, Your Florida Car Accident Attorney
We hope you enjoyed reading, “What To Do After A Car Accident.”
In Florida, there are several hundred thousand car accidents every year!
At Barthelette Law, we have helped numerous car accidents clients obtain favorable settlements. If you have been involved in a car accident, call us today!
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