Car accidents in Florida can range from mild to severe, and nearly all require drivers to seek legal assistance. If you have been involved in a car accident in Florida, take the following steps to make sure you receive the treatment and compensation you deserve.
Seek Medical Treatment
The first thing you should do if you’ve been involved in a car accident is seek medical treatment. In fact, you should be examined by a medical professional even if you don’t believe you’ve been injured. Several types of injuries have delayed symptoms, and you can never be too careful.
In addition to ensuring that your injuries are cared for, there are other reasons to immediately seek treatment following a Florida car accident. Under Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law, drivers must carry insurance to cover their own injuries and lost wages. In addition, the PIP law requires injured drivers to seek treatment within fourteen days of an accident to receive PIP benefits. Passengers should also seek treatment immediately following an accident, both for health and insurance reasons, as passengers may be entitled to PIP benefits under certain circumstances.
File a Police Report
In Florida, if you are in a car accident that involves injuries or property damage over $500, you are required by law to report the accident to the authorities. However, this isn’t the only reason that you should report your accident. Police reports are also a useful method of documenting information about your accident, your injuries, and the circumstances surrounding your accident.
Collect Information
Following an accident, be sure to collect the phone number, name, address, vehicle make, vehicle model, plate number, and insurance information of others involved in the incident. In addition, the names, phone numbers, and addresses of all witnesses and passengers should be gathered, as this information can be helpful if your accident results in a lawsuit.
File a Claim
If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Florida, you should file a claim with your insurance company regardless of whether you were responsible for the accident. After you’ve filed a claim, your insurance company will conduct an investigation to determine damage and fault. In addition, your insurance company will be able to provide you with important information regarding your insurance coverage and benefits.
Pensacola Car Accident Attorneys
If you’ve suffered injuries in an automobile accident in Florida, you need experienced legal representation. Located in Pensacola, Florida, Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., has over 70 years of combined experience representing car accident victims in Northwest Florida and Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Northwest Florida, Staples Ellis is here to help you overcome the harm you have endured. Please contact our office as soon as possible to set up a consultation.
Posted in: Auto Accidents