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Accidents happen suddenly and have serious consequences for our clients and impact long thereafter. If you are involved in an accident, here are 10 things you should do.

1.  STAY AT THE SCENE.  Whether the accident does not appear to be serious, make sure to stay at the scene. According to Florida Statute 316.061, a person who leaves the scene of an accident involving damage to a vehicle or property, commits a misdemeanor.
2.  DO A HEALTH CHECK. Ask if everyone is okay.  If anyone is unsure of his/her response or seems groggy, call 911.
3.  CALL THE POLICE.  You will need a police report in order to file a claim with your insurance company so be sure to call the police even if there seem to be no injuries.
4.  STAY CALM. In order to access the situation and document it, you need to stay as calm as possible.
5.  MAKE AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF THE ACCIDENT. Tell the accident investigating team exactly what happened.  If you are unsure, tell them you are unsure.
6.  TAKE PICTURES. Most cell phones nowadays have cameras.  Take pictures of all the vehicles involved in the accident, even those which appear to have no damage.  Also, take a picture of your, and your passenger's, injuries.
7.  DOCUMENT THE ACCIDENT.  In addition to getting the right insurance information from the other motorist(s), you will need the:

• Full name and contact information
• Insurance company
• License plate number
• Type, color and model of vehicle
• Location of accident
• Full names and phone number of witnesses. 

8.  GET MEDICAL ATTENTION.  An injury may seem small right after an accident, but it is important to get medical attention.  Many injuries start off as minor, but days, weeks, or months later, they may worsen if not taken care of properly.  It is important to note that under the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, effective January 1, 2013, individuals seeking PIP (Personal Injury Protection) medical benefits, are required to receive initial services and care within 14 days after a motor vehicle accident.
9.  CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.  Many insurance companies have time limits on when to file claims.  This makes it important for those in vehicle accidents to call the insurance company as soon as possible. 
10.    SEEK LEGAL ADVICE. Seeking legal advice is always the best thing to do when in an accident.  This should be done right away to protect your interests.

"Being prepared and knowing what to do before being involved in an accident, will be important after an accident. Here is a link to our Florida Accident Form.  Please download the form.  Make several copies, and keep them in the glove compartments of your vehicles.  The Spivey Law Firm Florida Accident Form, provides space to document all the information needed about the accident," says Collier County Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey.

Personal Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.