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Any time you are involved in a collision in Florida, there are some steps that you should try to take as soon as possible. Taking these steps will help give you the best chance of recovering the financial compensation you deserve. Below is a comprehensive checklist from Cape Coral car accident lawyer Randall L. Spivey.

1. Report the Accident to the Police

One of the first things you should do is report your car accident to the police. Under Florida law, you must report any car accident that results in physical injuries or apparent property damage of $500 or more. Calling 911 from the accident scene satisfies this requirement. If you did not call 911, you will want to talk to a Cape Coral car accident lawyer to find out what you need to do to report your accident as required by law.

2. Report the Accident to Your Auto Insurance Company

Along with reporting your car accident to law enforcement, you should also report it to your insurance company. While this is not required by law, it is almost certainly required under the terms of your policy. If you do not report your car accident in a timely manner, this could lead to a denial of coverage.

3. Get Medical Treatment for Your Injuries

After a car accident, getting medical treatment for your injuries needs to be a top priority. Failing to get treatment promptly could increase the risk of long-term complications.

It could also create unnecessary complications for asserting your legal rights. If you do not seek treatment promptly, the insurance companies may argue that you cannot prove your injuries resulted from the collision.

4. Make Sure You Understand Your Doctor’s Advice

When seeking medical treatment for your injuries, you should make sure you understand your doctor’s advice. What types of treatment do you need? Do you need any follow-up tests or scans? Do you need to stay home from work? When is your next appointment? All of these are important questions that you should make sure you get answered.

5. Take Photos of Your Vehicle and Your Injuries (if Possible)

If you have access to your vehicle, you should take photos to document the damage as thoroughly as possible. If you do not have access to your vehicle, that is okay—your Cape Coral car accident lawyer will be able to gather the documentation needed to pursue your claim (as long as you contact a lawyer in time). You should take photos of your injuries as well, as this will help document the accident’s effects and establish your claim for proper compensation.

6. Take Detailed Notes About the Accident

In addition to taking plenty of photos, you should also take detailed notes. Write down everything you can remember about the accident—from where and when it happened to the road and traffic conditions at the time of the crash. At this point, you should not make any assumptions about fault. Stick to the facts and rely on your lawyer to tell you what claim (or claims) you should file. (no comma needed between facts, and)

7. Do Not Post About the Accident on Social Media

While it is important to document the accident as thoroughly as possible, you should not share any information about the accident on social media. The insurance companies will likely be monitoring your accounts, and they will be looking for any opportunity to use your own words against you. So, for now, keep the details between you and your lawyer.

8. Do Not Accept a Settlement from the Insurance Companies

While settling might eventually be in your best interests, you should not accept a settlement from the insurance companies in the immediate aftermath of your car accident. If you do, you will almost certainly be settling for far less than you deserve. Determining the value of your claim requires an in-depth medical and financial analysis, and until your lawyer conducts this analysis, you will not know how much you are entitled to recover.

9. Keep Track of Your Accident-Related Expenses

To help your lawyer calculate the value of your claim, you should keep track of your accident-related expenses. This includes all out-of-pocket costs, including medical bills, medical supplies, prescriptions, and transportation costs, among others. Paying by check or card will create a record of these costs automatically, but it can also be helpful to keep your receipts so that you know exactly what each check or card payment covers.

10. Document Your Injuries’ Daily Effects

If you suffered significant or permanent injuries in your car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering. While Personal Injury Protection (PIP) does not cover pain and suffering, other types of insurance coverage do. If you are entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering, keeping a record of your daily pain levels and the other day-to-day effects of your injuries will assist your lawyer in seeking appropriate compensation on your behalf. 

11. Learn About Your Legal Rights  

Making informed decisions is the key to protecting your legal rights, and this starts with understanding what rights you have after a car accident in Florida. Our blog contains a wealth of information for car accident victims, and you can use the search bar to find information that is specific to your type of accident.

12. Schedule a Free Consultation with a Car Accident Attorney

If you are entitled to financial compensation for your collision, you will need to work with an experienced car accident attorney who can deal with the insurance companies effectively on your behalf. Hiring an attorney costs nothing out of pocket, and you can get started with a free consultation.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Cape Coral Car Accident Lawyer Randall L. Spivey

Do you need to know more about protecting your legal rights after a car accident in Florida? To schedule a free consultation with Cape Coral car accident lawyer Randall L. Spivey, give us a call at 239-337-7483 or statewide at 888-477-4839 or contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. online today at Spiveylaw.com.

Randall L. Spivey is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar Association.  Certification is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Randall L. Spivey and Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., have also received a Preeminent Attorney Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating standard, signifying the greatest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards.