Following a car accident in Florida, people are often unsure of what steps they should take. And this is totally understandable – car accidents can be traumatic and confusing events, leaving accident victims unsure of where to turn. Therefore, if you’ve recently been involved in an auto accident, in addition to reviewing the information below, you should contact a Florida personal injury attorney as soon as possible for guidance.
Report your car accident
In Florida, any car accident involving injuries or property damage above $500 must be reported by the parties involved. Therefore, the first thing anyone involved in an accident should do (other than receiving immediate medical attention) is report the accident to the authorities.
Don’t give away too much information to other parties
After a car accident, the less you say, the better. Remember, anything you say to the other parties can later be used against you in your personal injury case. Therefore, it is especially important to never admit responsibility or apologize for an accident, even if you believe you were in the wrong.
Collect information
Evidence is imperative following a Florida car accident. The following information is all useful when pursuing a personal injury claim:
- Witness information
- Photos of the accident scene
- Photos of other drivers’ licenses and insurance information
- License plate information of other vehicles involved in the accident
- Make, color, and model of other cars
- Copy of the police report
- Passenger information
See a doctor
As noted above, anyone injured in a car accident should seek immediate medical attention. However, it’s important to see a doctor even if you don’t believe you’ve suffered an injury. Following an accident, adrenaline can mask the pain of injuries, leading those involved to believe that they’re fine. In addition, some injuries can take days or even weeks to present symptoms, so medical care is an absolute must following an automobile accident of any kind. There are also other reasons why it is important to seek medical care after an accident, including the creation of records and satisfaction of insurance requirements.
File an insurance claim
Finally, anyone injured in an accident should contact his or her insurance agent to begin the claims process. If possible, an injured party may even want to call his or her insurance company at the scene of the accident to ensure that he or she has collected all the information necessary to file a claim.
Hire a Pensacola car accident attorney
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident in Pensacola, Florida, you need an experienced Florida personal injury attorney on your side. Located in Pensacola, Florida, Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., has over seventy years of combined experience representing auto 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. Please contact our office as soon as possible to set up a consultation with one of our talented attorneys.
Posted in: Auto Accidents