A car accident can be a terrifying and harrowing experience, especially if you injured or even worse seriously injured. We at Pallegar Law, P.A. are a team of experienced Sarasota car accident attorneys who will fight for you to receive the compensation that you deserve. The following is a list of steps to take after you have been in a car accident.
The first step you need to take immediately after the accident is to make sure you are okay and than call 911. Do this before you even get out of your car. If you have any pain try to not to make any unnecessary movements to avoid exacerbating any injury. Do not leave the scene of the accident until you are released by the police. If you suspect you have an injury, notify the 911 dispatcher immediately so that an ambulance will be requested on scene.
Next, in the event you are involved in a minor fender bender, move your car to a place out of the way of any traffic if the accident occurred on a busy road. Also, after law enforcement have generated a report make sure you obtain a copy of the accident report for your own records.
Make sure you obtain the insurance information of the other driver. Make sure the insurance information they provide to you is valid and not expired. Also make sure you obtain their name, make/model/color and license plate number of the vehicle involved in the accident, and the contact information of the driver to include house address and phone number. Locate and speak to any witnesses to the accident and jot down a few words regarding what they observed. Also, make sure you obtain their contact information. You can even record your conversations with them on your smart phone if you have it present.
Take photos of everything that you can; you can never take enough photos. Photos in many cases are great tools at preserving evidence. Take photos of your car, their car, the road, and close-ups of any damage. If you have a pen and paper, write down your story or use your phone to voice memo app to record it. The stress of the situation may cause you to forget important details for future recollection.
Many car accident-related injuries don’t become apparent until several days sometimes weeks after the accident. Back, neck, or joint related pain can flare up a day or two later. Make sure to pay close attention to your body and any discomfort you feel.
Keep records of all medical visits as you will need to provide this information to your Sarasota car accident lawyer. During our initial consultation, please bring with you copies of the police accident report, your written report, photos, any witness statements, and medical or vehicle-related bills to the initial consultation. If you have been injured in a car accident, contact an aggressive Sarasota car accident lawyer who will fight the insurance company to get you back on your feet.
Do not provide any recorded statements or accept any settlement from your insurance company until after you have spoken to an experienced car accident lawyer. Your insurance company will probably call you and offer you a fast settlement prior to you hiring an attorney. This settlement is usually less than you are entitled to. Do not sign anything until you consult with an attorney.
Our initial consultations are free and you are under no obligation to retain our firm. We want to provide you with an explanation of the options you have to resolve your case. We at Pallegar Law, P.A. are only paid if we win.
If you have been injured or involved in a car accident, contact a Tampa Bay or Sarasota personal injury lawyer at 813-444-3912 (Tampa) or 941-893-5816 (Sarasota) today.