Car accidents are stressful and they happen to even the most careful of drivers. After the accident, you may be dizzy with adrenaline but is it important to stay as calm as possible.
In this brief article, we will go over what you need to do in the event of an accident and who to call if you need to hire a car accident lawyer in Brandon, Florida.
What to Do After Getting in a Car Accident
Even the most seasoned driver can easily become disheveled after a car accident and it is easy to forget what to do in the event of an accident. There are 6 important steps you need to follow after a car accident.
1. Check for Injuries
After the accident, if it is safe to do so, stop your vehicle where the accident occurred and check on yourself and your passengers to make sure there are no injuries.
In the event that you are seriously injured, do not move from where you are. Call 911 or have someone else call, and wait for the EMS to get there. If the injuries are too severe or if it is a fatal car accident, you need to make sure to call 911 immediately.
2. Move to a Safer Location
If your vehicle is still drivable, move it to the side of the road or out of the way of traffic. Make sure to also get yourself and your passengers to a safer location to avoid another accident.
3. Call the Police
If you haven’t done so already, call the police so that they can come to the scene and create a police report for you. If the other party is not wanting to provide their information to you, the officer at the scene will get that information for you.
4. Obtain Witness Information
If there are any witnesses around that may have seen what happened, kindly approach them and ask for their information. If they aren’t willing to provide it to you, but they are willing to give it to an officer, then you may have to wait to get their information from the report when it is ready. Your insurance company will be able to obtain that witness information and the police report.
5. Exchange Information
When exchanging information with the other party, it is important to not discuss the events of the accident or to admit fault. Your insurance company will do their own investigation to decide who is responsible for the accident.
When you are collecting the other party’s information, make sure you obtain:
- The driver’s full name
- The driver’s phone number and address
- A photo of the other driver’s license
- The driver’s license plate number
- Location of the accident
- Insurance company name and policy number
- Year, make, model of their vehicle
6. Call Your Insurance Company
Once you are safe and ready to reach out to your insurance company, give them a call to start the claims process. Your adjuster can also tell you of the coverages on your policy and if you have any medical coverages on your policy to cover you if you have injuries.
Obtaining a Car Accident Lawyer
If you are considering obtaining a Florida car accident lawyer in Brandon, Florida, make sure you give your lawyer a call and speak with them about the next steps for the claims process. Once you obtain a lawyer to represent you for your accident and for your personal injury, the insurance company can no longer speak directly with you and can only be in communication with your lawyer.
Determining Liability
Your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company will need to take a recorded statement from you if you were the driver involved in the accident. Once an attorney represents you, they will have to get your attorney’s permission before they can take your statement.
In the event that the other party is not accepting liability for the accident, your attorney will be your advocate in making sure that the other insurance company receives all the information that they need in order to make the right liability decision.
Hire an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
If you are in Brandon, Florida and you are looking for a car accident lawyer to represent you and to help you through this stressful and traumatic time, contact us now so we can take the stress off your back. Our initial consultations are free of charge and we are ready to represent you as soon as possible.