Did you know Florida drivers drove over 208 million miles in 2020 alone?
With so many drivers on the road, accidents are always a possibility. Whether or not you've been in one before, it's important to stay prepared in the event anything does happen. Luckily, we're here to help you out.
Read on for your complete car accident checklist.
The first thing to remember — don't say too much. You don't want to accidentally admit fault, and you don't want to mention any mistakes you might've made behind the wheel. This could not only lead to paying more on your part, but it might also reduce the amount you could have originally gotten.
Next, you're going to dial 911 if you're physically able to. Obtaining a police report might sound like an unnecessary thing to do, but it's going to help stories hold up should your accident be taken to court. Police reports are crucial pieces of evidence, and having one that shows things in your favor can help build a much stronger case.
Having a stronger case means a much easier job for your attorney when the time comes for settlement.
It's also required in the state of Florida if there's any death or injury, or if there's property damage worth more than $500.
In most scenarios, the contact information for each driver will be listed on the police report, but you should still exchange information as well. This means your name, insurance information (policy number, phone number, and agent's name), and your car's make, model, and year.
Photos are an easy way to document and keep this information, but make sure nobody gets a photo of your license or registration number.
Speaking of photos, you'll need to document the entire accident scene.
Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle, but also take photos of the accident scene and your entire car. Documenting the accident scene can help officials figure out the true nature of the crash to determine fault. Taking photos of your entire car will help your insurance company get a better understanding of where exactly the damage to your vehicle is.
This makes it easier for them to give you an estimate of repair costs, and it'll also help speed along the process. Basically, the more thorough you can be with your photos the better.
Next, it's important to get yourself checked out after an accident. The faster you do this, the better car crash help you're going to receive.
If there are serious injuries at the scene of the accident, try not to move anyone until professionals arrive. They'll be able to ensure that everyone is safely removed from their vehicles and given treatment.
Even if you don't think you're injured, it's important to seek medical attention. You can potentially suffer from things that don't immediately show symptoms, like brain trauma or internal injuries. You might also wake up feeling sore or have bruises later down the line.
The faster you can access medical help after your accident, the better off you're going to be once the time comes to file a claim.
You'll need to contact your insurance company to file a claim using any and all of the information you gathered. Your agent will be able to help you settle the problem, and give you advice on what steps to take so you can receive compensation to cover damages and injuries.
They'll also assign a claims adjuster to your case. That person will typically come out and inspect your vehicle after the fact, and they'll also work with you throughout the entire process.
If you end up needing a vehicle replacement because yours was totaled, you should also add finding a reliable car dealership to your list.
Finally, you may end up needing to contact a lawyer after your car accident. Things can get messy quickly during the settlement process, and it's important to ensure you have someone on your side. Even if you're not certain about whether you'd like to file a lawsuit, contacting an attorney can save you a lot of headaches later on.
They'll be able to advise you on whether or not you should seek medical treatment, and any other necessary steps you'll need to take throughout the process. You'll also have someone to guide you through things like contacting the at-fault party's insurance company and even contacting your own insurance company.
You'll have a professional who knows the process inside and out and can find discrepancies that you might not have noticed throughout the trial. Getting into an accident is stressful enough, but adding a confusing settlement case on top of that and attempting to represent yourself can make things a lot more hectic.
Hiring the right lawyer is going to help alleviate some of that stress so you can focus on more important things, like healing.
Getting into a crash is never expected, but having a solid car accident checklist on hand can help you prepare for the worst. When you cover all your bases, you set yourself up for success in the best way possible and make sure you're taken care of every step of the way. Remember, prevention is the best medicine and that applies to car accidents as well.
You can't always handle things on your own, though, which is where come in. Check out our free case review tool today to get started.
