Eight Steps After You've Been Injured in a Car Accident
These eight steps can provide a basic guide for how to proceed following a car accident with injuries. Researching what to do when you're in a car crash before one happens can help you prepare and understand what to do.
May 28, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In Florida, a car accident is reported approximately every two minutes. That means that each year, thousands of people are involved in Florida car accidents. Researching what to do when you're in a car crash before one happens, can help you prepare and understand what to do.
The aftermath of a car accident can be frightening. You likely have many questions about what to do after an accident. How long do I have before reporting an accident? What do I do after a car accident? When do I contact a lawyer after my car accident? All of these are valid and important questions.
Eight Steps You Should Take After a Car Accident
These eight steps can provide a basic guide for how to proceed following a car accident with injuries. Certain requirements, like reporting the accident, depend on the damage done, but it is recommended that you report any Florida auto accident with injuries to the police and ask that they be called to the accident scene.
- Step One: Call 911 and seek medical attention. Many accident injuries such as whiplash, brain injury and soft issue injuries may not be apparent initially. Receiving treatment from a qualified doctor is the most important step to protect you and ensure that you are not seriously hurt following a car crash. DO NOT REFUSE MEDICAL TREATMENT IF YOU ARE HURT.
- Step Two: Evaluate other passengers and drivers. If your injuries are not serious, your second step after dialing 911 would be to check on the others involved in the car accident. In some cases, you may be able to render aid to the other drivers or passengers.
- Step Three: Exchange information and file a report. You should exchange insurance information, names and phone numbers with any other parties involved in the accident. You should insist that police respond to the accident to allow you to file an accident report, document the accident, and report witnesses and the names of everyone involved.
- Step Four: Document information from the scene. If you're not seriously injured, you should take photos of the scene with your phone or camera. You should also note names and numbers of any witnesses and document accident details such as the weather, skid marks, traffic signals and location. Also, write down your account of the accident and how it happened.
- Step Five: Document property damage to your car. An important step following a car accident is to take photos of the damage to your vehicle. Do not let anyone repair your vehicle until after the car accident investigation is complete.
- Step Six: Photograph any visible injuries from the car accident. If you sustained visible injuries in the car accident, even if they are minor, it is advisable to have someone take a photo of them. Images that document stitches, broken bones or other injuries may be important evidence later.
- Step Seven: Follow your doctor's orders. It's important to follow your doctor's instructions for medical treatment after your car accident. Treatment options may include rehabilitative care, long-term care and physical therapy. Your doctor may also recommend that you refrain from working.
- Step Eight: Hire a Tampa car accident lawyer. After you've received medical treatment and documented the scene of the accident and your injuries, you should contact a lawyer who can protect your rights. Your insurance company will immediately begin investigating your accident -- don't agree to a recorded statement or say that you aren't injured. Instead, you should refer the insurance company to your Tampa car accident attorney.
Following these eight steps will help you to assess your injuries, preserve evidence of the crash and hire an advocate to work on your behalf. If you have any questions about the steps after your Tampa car accident, call a personal injury attorney who offers a free initial consultation.
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