What to Do After an Accident in Bay County?
Immediately following an
auto accident, there are steps that you will want to take so long as you are able. The
actions you take following an accident can help you should you decide
to take legal action against the responsible party. At The Pittman Firm,
P.A., our Bay County car accident lawyers are dedicated to making sure
victims of negligence-related collisions are given the strongest opportunity
to seek compensation.
Here's what you should do after an accident:
- Call the authorities — Call 911 immediately after an accident to help you clear the scene of the accident safely and to issue an accident report. Do not block traffic; if there are minor injuries and the vehicles are drivable, you should move the vehicles out of the flow of traffic. The report may have important information you can use later in the case.
- Gather the other party’s information — You will want to make sure that you have the other party’s driver’s license and insurance information, as well as, any other documents that may prove important in your case. Do not leave the scene until all exchanges have taken place or the responding officer has advised you to go.
- Do not make any statements – Your first instinct may be to argue or say something that may be construed as guilt. Do not discuss your physical condition that could be documented as fact. The onset of some injuries is not immediate, such as whiplash, and can takes hours or even days to display symptoms.
- Speak with witnesses — If you can, speak with anyone who may have witnessed the accident. They can testify on your behalf in trial if the case reaches that point. You should gather their information so the insurance company or your attorney can contact the witness, if necessary. Sometimes, the officer omits names of witness from the crash report that you cannot obtain after the fact.
- Take photos of the scene of the accident — If you are able to, taking pictures can prove to be beneficial evidence when seeking compensation. This is extremely important if who is ‘at-fault’ is in question. Take pictures before moving vehicles from traffic flow to show car positions on impact. Insurance companies may try to deny liability and with photo evidence, you can prove otherwise.
- Seek medical attention — If you are injured, you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Florida law requires “emergency medical treatment” to be received within 14 days of a motor vehicle accident in order to receive your full Personal Injury Protection (P.I.P) coverage. By seeking medical treatment, you will have a record of your injuries. Your records must show that the injury was a direct result of the accident.
We know that an accident can be traumatizing. Legal matters may be the last thing on your mind. Regardless, you must know that timing in these matters is of the utmost importance. To help prepare you before an accident happens, download my free iCRASHED app.
If you are injured and need to file a claim after an accident, call The Pittman Firm, P.A. Our Bay County auto accident lawyers are ready to help you seek compensation for the injuries you sustained.