What You Need to Do Immediately After a Car Accident
Even the most careful drivers get
into accidents. And while some get away with a few scratches, there are not so
lucky ones who get badly injured – sometimes, fatally.
If you find yourself suddenly
involved in a car accident, getting in touch with a Boca Raton personal
injury lawyer may not be a priority for you. However, it should
still be one of your considerations, especially if you want to protect yourself
and your interests. We’ll get into that later but first things first…
Don’t
go anywhere.
If you caused the accident, you may
be tempted to flee the scene.
DON’T! There are serious criminal
penalties for hit-and-run drivers.
The best thing you can do is to turn
your vehicle’s hazard lights on. It’s always a good idea to have emergency
flares, cones and warning triangles in your trunk so you can set them up to
alert traffic.
Stay
calm and call for help.
Make sure that you don’t let your
emotions get the best of you. You need to keep a level head to check if
everyone involved in the accident is okay.
If someone’s hurt, call an
ambulance. Your quick thinking could mean the difference between life and
death.
Also, don’t move anyone who’s
unconscious or has neck or back pain. You might cause more harm than good. It’s
best to wait for someone who has proper medical training for these kinds of
situations.
Call
the police.
Even for minor accidents, you need
to call the police. Your insurance company will most likely ask for a police
report. Don’t forget to get the name and badge numbers of the responding
officers.
Be
prepared to exchange information.
Other drivers involved in the
accident will ask for your name, number, address, license number, license plate
number, and insurance information.
Be sure to do the same but do not
volunteer more information than necessary. You may be admitting guilt
unintentionally.
Consult
with a Boca Raton personal injury lawyer.
Before you notify your insurance
agency about the accident, consider getting in touch with a personal injury
lawyer. Remember that some accident-related injuries do not manifest
immediately. These could appear days, weeks, or months after the accident.
If you get an offer from your
insurance company to settle, your lawyer can advise you before signing any
documents. From making sure you get fully compensated for damages to your
vehicle to getting you the best medical care available, your attorney is there
to help.
Inform
your insurance company.
Explain what happened to your insurance
agent as clearly as possible. Stick to the facts and give your full
cooperation. If they find out that you have lied about the accident, they can
deny you coverage.
Bonus:
FAQs about Vehicle Insurance
The Florida Department of Highway
Safety and Motor Vehicles has an FAQ
section about vehicle insurance for cars involved in a crash. If you
are confused about automobile insurance laws, this would be a good place to
start learning.
However, if you want to maximize
your recovery if you’ve been injured in a car accident, consider hiring a Boca
Raton personal injury lawyer. Hiring an experienced attorney will go a long way
in making sure you’re compensated for all your injuries.
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