What to do after a car accident?
When you are involved in a car accident there are a few simple step one should take after a car accident.
– By Tampa Injury Attorney: Martin J. Hernandez, Esq.
The first thing after you have been in a Tampa car accident that you should do is to check that no one needs immediate medical attention. The Florida Department of Motor vehicle makes the following suggestions for an accident with injuries.
As a responsible driver, you must never leave the scene of an accident. Not only is it essential that you provide any necessary help immediately following an accident, but leaving an accident scene can result in having your driving privileges revoked, your license suspended or being charged with a criminal charge.
Take a moment to assess the situation, and do not panic. Be aware of the traffic situation, and any other potential dangers, such as fire.
After the auto accident, immediately take pictures! This is the best evidence later on as to car positions and traffic and weather conditions. You should next document the accident with photo; video or even sketch it out. Make sure to document your car, the other cars and the road/intersection.
You should stay as close to the accident as safely possible, without obstructing traffic. You should do your best to provide immediate assistance to other motorists, passengers or pedestrians that may have been injured in the accident. Take extra care when attempting to move an injured person; if possible, wait for an ambulance to arrive. Notify 911 to report any injuries and call for medical assistance. If the accident did not result in any injuries, inform the local Florida police.
If you have been injured in a car accident, it is important to stay calm. If possible, ensure that you are out of danger and not blocking any oncoming traffic. Call or wait for help, and do not attempt to move if you are unable to do so.
Once you have done this you need to move your cars out of the roadway if possible it’s the law. While wait for the police to arrive. You will need to have the following: Driver’s license, registration card, and insurance. You will need to exchange with the other driver involved in the accident:
1 Name, address and contact information
- Driver’s License number
- License plate number and Vehicle involved.
- Auto Insurance information.
A law enforcement officer will complete a written report if the crash involves a charge of DUI or results in death, injury, or property damage to the extent a vehicle must be towed.
If the crash results in vehicle or property damage and does not require a law enforcement report, you must make a written report of the crash to DHSMV within 10 days. This can be done at: www.flhsmv.gov
If you are in a crash with an unattended vehicle or other property, you must make every attempt to locate the owner and notify law enforcement. If you can’t locate the property owner, you must leave a note including your name, contact information, and license plate (registration) number.
You should seek out medical services for any injuries that you have sustained in the accident. There is a limited amount of time to claim for an injury caused in a car accident. Some car accident injuries may resolve within a matter of days without any medical treatment at all. More serious injuries might become permanent and result in some level of physical disability. What type of injury you sustained depends on what type of doctor you should go to.
The type and severity of injuries suffered by drivers and passengers involved in a car accident depend on factors that include:
- Was it a low-speed collision of a high speed crash?
- Was the person wearing a seat belt?
- Did the car have air bags?
- Did the car get hit form he from, rear or side?
Was the occupant facing straight ahead in the seat or was the person head or body turned in a certain direction.
You should also seek the services of a Tampa Injury Attorney to assist you. The processed of working your way thought your insurance can be confusing and highly frustrating. Not knowing how to navigate your insurance policy, talking to adjusters who do not have your best interest in hand, determining which doctors will assist you, and how to obtain the true value of your injuries are just some of things that can exasperate people injured in a car accident. To make it worse, someone else put you in this situation.
When searching for a personal injury attorney, it is important that you do your research. You can learn a lot about a lawyer though online reviews and personal recommendations. You may want to interview a potential personal injury attorney to find the one that will fight for your rights. Consider asking the Tampa Injury Lawyer questions about:
The process
Experience and track record.
- How any cases do you have and how many have you won?
- Attorney fees and costs.
- Understanding what the attorney fee structure is beforehand.
Some other helpful information
Reporting a Car Accident in Tampa, Florida
If you’re a driver involved in a car accident in Florida, and the crash resulted in injury or death, and/or vehicle damage or damage to any other property in an apparent amount of at least $500, you must report the accident to the local police department, if the accident occurred within a municipality. If the accident did not occur within a municipality, you must report the accident to the office of the county sheriff or to the nearest office or station of the Florida Highway Patrol. These rules can be found at Florida Statutes § 316.065.
Tampa Attorney Martin J. Hernandez
Attorney Martin J. Hernandez of Fernandez & Hernandez, LLC in Tampa provides legal representation for families in auto accident injury and wrongful death cases. Our Tampa personal injury attorneys welcome the opportunity to interview with you and your loved ones. We invite you to review our recent results from settlements to trial verdicts. Our qualifications and background are available to you as well. Our Tampa Attorneys Martin Hernandez and Martin Hernandez PA are bilingual as well. Just call us at 813.755.9500 for your free consultation.
The Tampa personal injury lawyers of Fernandez & Hernandez, serve Florida communities including Tampa, Brandon, Carrollwood, Westchase, Riverview, Temple Terrace, Pasco, Pinellas, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Lakeland, Plant City, Ruskin, Apollo Beach, Dover, Valrico, Lutz, Lakeland and many other neighborhoods in Tampa Bay area. Contact an Experienced Tampa Auto Accident Attorney from Fernandez & Hernandez Law.
If you have been involved in an Auto Accident in the Tampa Bay area, call Tampa personal injury lawyer Martin J. Hernandez of Fernandez & Hernandez for a free consultation now. We recommend also reading his reviews on Google Reviews, Avvo and Yelp.
Call Tampa Personal Injury Attorney, Martin J. Hernandez of Fernandez & Hernandez at 813.755.9500 or read more at: www.InjuryLawyersOfTampa.com
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