A car accident can happen in an instant and is usually unexpected. If you’re involved in a serious car accident and you or a loved one are seriously injured, it can be a major disruption to your life, your income, and your daily state of mind.
Unfortunately, in many serious auto accident cases, the situation is made worse by not knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
Dos: The Right Steps
Do seek Immediate Medical Attention
You may feel perfectly fine right after an accident, but some injuries become apparent only after a day or two. You can sustain serious head or spinal injuries from a minor impact, so visit your doctor if you experience pain or unusual symptoms.
Injuries resulting from a crash are usually included in your auto insurance claim, so it’s important to document any physical harm stemming from the accident.
Do Preserve Evidence
The next step is to take photographs of the scene and the injuries. Photos of the property damage are frequently used in pre-suit and litigation to convey the severity of the crash. Photos of injuries before anyone treats them are also useful to show their traumatic nature in the most favorable light. Photos of the scene can show any dangerous conditions on the roadway as well as help an accident reconstructionist if liability is disputed.
Do Report The Accident
To that point, you should call 911 immediately after checking the other passengers and drivers for injuries. Florida law requires any person involved in a wreck to report the crash if it results in property damage or injury. 911 dispatchers can send law enforcement to the scene to investigate the crash as well as send an ambulance if necessary.
Do Collect Information (Drivers Exchange)
Use your cellphone camera to take pictures of documents or, with pen and paper, get the name, address, phone number, and driver’s license number of everyone involved in the accident. If the driver’s name doesn’t match up with the car’s registration or insurance papers, describe the person’s relationship to the vehicle’s owner.
Then, gather all vehicle information, including year, make and model, color, license plate number, and vehicle identification number. Get the insurance policy number and the company’s phone number in case the other person doesn’t report the accident. See if any witnesses are willing to provide you with contact information and details about what they saw.
Never share your Social Security number, the coverage limits on your insurance policy, or other personal information.
Do Hire An Experienced Car Accident Injury Attorney
Finally, the last thing to do if you or your passengers are injured in a car wreck that is not your fault is to call an experienced personal injury lawyer. While there are many personal injury lawyers, not all of them have equal training and qualifications. The Florida Bar does not typically allow lawyers to call themselves “experts” in a particular field. However, the Bar does allow some lawyers who have extensive experience in personal injury to take a test to become board-certified Civil Trial Specialists. Although only 1% of Florida lawyers are board-certified in a civil trial, two out of the three lawyers at Zarzaur Law hold this certification.
Since all personal injury lawyers have the same “no cost, no fee, unless you win” payout structure, there is no reason not to hire someone who is not a specialist.
Don’ts: Avoid These Mistakes
Don’t Admit Fault
Do not apologize for the accident or say that you are fine.
Don’t Give A Recorded Statement
NEVER GIVE A RECORDED STATEMENT TO AN ADJUSTER WITHOUT A LAWYER. This is the oldest trick in the book and standard practice for most insurance adjusters. They actually get bonuses based on how many injury victims they get on record talking about their injuries. The insurance companies want you to speak with their adjusters, who are trained to get you to say things on the recorded line that minimize your injuries, and then later, once the injuries have been fully diagnosed and the adrenaline has worn off, use them against you and your injury case.
Don’t Settle Too Quickly
You may be tempted to accept an offer from the insurance company when they are telling you they can give you a quick settlement and will cut a check for you. However, this can also mean that a lot of essential pieces of information may be lost that affect your potential personal injury claim.
Don’t Delay Medical Treatment
The reason it’s important to seek medical treatment if you’re having symptoms is that the insurance company that’s going to be on the other side of all these claims, whether you have a lawyer or not, is going to make the argument that the longer it takes you to go to the ER or seek treatment, the less serious your injury must have been, or perhaps the cause of it was something other than the car wreck.
Don’t post On Social Media
No matter how tempting it is to post photos to show people how you’re recovering from your injuries, don’t do it. A judge might consider your smile for the camera to mean that you’re not struggling with any injuries or trauma. Avoid posting anything about your injuries or the status of your recovery on social media.
If you want to update your friends and family, call them on the phone and update them privately. Consult with your personal injury lawyer before you resume your regular social media habits to avoid having your claim unfairly denied.
Don’t Sign Anything Without Legal Advice
Meeting with the best personal injury lawyer gives you the opportunity to ask questions and understand your options. Your lawyer is looking out for your best interests and is your advocate when dealing with the insurance company. If you have suffered an injury, understanding your rights and options for recovering the maximum compensation for your losses can be fully achieved with the help of a board-certified civil trial lawyer.
GET MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT HERE AT OUR “CAR WRECK CHECKLIST” >
While there are many personal injury lawyers, not all of them have equal training and qualifications. Lawyers are usually prohibited by the Florida Bar from calling themselves “experts” in a particular field. However, the Bar does allow some lawyers who have extensive experience and peer recognition in personal injury to take a test to become Board-Certified Civil Trial Specialists. Although only 1% of Florida lawyers are board-certified in a civil trial, two out of the three lawyers at Zarzaur Law hold this certification.
Since all personal injury lawyers have the same “no cost, no fee, unless you win” payout structure, there is no reason not to hire someone who is not a specialist.
Joe Zarzaur is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney whose firm has been dedicated to promoting community safety since 2007. ZARZAUR LAW’S AREAS OF PRACTICE: Serious Personal Injury, Product Defect, Auto Accidents, Cycling Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Products Liability, Wrongful Death, Community Safety, Boat and Jet Ski Accidents, Slip and Fall Injuries, and more. Licensed in Alabama and Florida.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s important that you don’t make any rash decisions. Put yourself in the best possible position to receive the justice you deserve. It is also important to consult a Board-Certified Civil Trial Lawyer with the knowledge and experience to help you. We know accidents can be stressful, and we want to make the process as easy as possible for you.
Call Zarzaur Law, P.A. today at (855) Hire-Joe for a free legal consultation or visit www.zarzaurlaw.com.
Sources:
https://www.aarp.org/auto/driver-safety/what-to-do-after-car-accident/