South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
Have you recently been involved in a car accident in Boynton Beach, Florida? There are six important things to do to make sure you have covered your bases and done everything correctly. Car accidents are prevalent, so if you haven’t been in a car accident, knowing these six steps can bring peace of mind that you know what to do if the situation were to arise.
Florida car accidents are different than car accidents in some other states. We are here to give you all the information you need for handling an accident correctly in Boynton Beach, Florida.
What To Do After a Car Accident
You might experience adrenaline or shock if you are ever involved in a car accident, which is completely normal. The important thing to remember is that you need to stay calm and complete the following six steps after moving yourself and other passengers in your vehicle to safety after the wreck.
1. Call 9-1-1
In Florida, it’s every citizen’s legal responsibility to call law enforcement to the scene of an accident if there are injuries or vehicle damages over $500. Since there is almost always damages of this amount present, it’s imperative to always call.
Calling law enforcement to the scene means the police will come to assess the damage, talk to the victims, and file an unbiased police report. You should obtain a copy of this report later for insurance purposes and for a possible lawsuit if your case permits one.
2. Seek Medical Attention
When you call law enforcement to the scene of a crash, it is likely that EMS will also arrive. Some people may be afraid of seeking medical attention and try to skip this step, but it’s vitally important for two reasons. The first is your own health.
Regardless of if you have visible injuries or not, you should be observed by these trained professionals to rule out the possibility of any injuries such as concussions or internal bleeding. If you have severe injuries, you will be transported to the nearest hospital where a doctor will see you. Similar to the police report, medical records can also be used later in your case. That is the second reason why you should never skip medical attention.
3. Obtain the Other Driver’s Information
Although Florida’s car accident laws don’t allow victims to automatically sue the other driver, you will still need to exchange contact information with the other driver. Some drivers might flee, which then makes the accident a hit-and-run and brings about criminal charges for the other driver. Always remember to stay on the scene so these charges are not applied to you as well.
If the other driver does flee, take a mental note of their vehicle and quickly jot down the color, make, model, and other features you may be able to see of the vehicle or driver. This information needs to be given to the police so they can file a report and start looking for the responsible driver.
Most drivers remain on the scene. You should obtain their name (first and last) and their insurance information to use later on.
4. Take Photos of the Scene
Do not forget to take photos of the scene to give to your lawyer. Things to take pictures of include:
- Your injuries
- Vehicle damage to your car and the other driver’s
- Any road obstructions
- Other items that highlight your innocence in the wreck
Photos can greatly help your position when your attorney goes to negotiate with your insurance company or if your case goes to court. Do not be afraid to take a lot of pictures. You never know what you may find and what your attorney can use.
5. Contact an Attorney
Before you contact your insurance adjuster, you should start looking for a Boynton Beach Car Accident Lawyer if you do not already have one. Many people wait to hire a lawyer until they run into problems with their insurance company. The best way to avoid this and to optimize your chances at a favorable outcome early on is by hiring an attorney before speaking to insurance.
Your attorney can speak on your behalf and answer all questions in the insurance investigation process to make sure there’s no room for error. They can also negotiate to get a higher settlement if the first offer is too low and less than what you deserve.
6. Speak to Insurance
After you hire an attorney, then you should consult with insurance. Florida law requires drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection, which is what you will use to help cover medical bills from your accident and lost wages from time off work instead of suing the other driver.
This is the requirement since Florida operates under a modified comparative fault system, which means all drivers in the accident share the blame to some degree. If you are the driver that is not at fault, your share of the blame will be significantly less than the other drivers.
Despite what they may advertise, your insurance company is not out to give you all the help you need. Rather, insurance companies are always looking for ways to save money, which means they will look for slip-ups in your statement to reduce your settlement. This is another reason why you should hire an experienced attorney to speak on your behalf and not run into this issue.
When To File a Lawsuit
It is still possible to file a lawsuit against the other driver in Florida. To do so, your case must meet one of these requirements:
- Medical expenses that exceed a certain limit
- Suffering from a severe injury
The severe injury must be extreme and life-altering, such as one of a combination of the following:
- Wrongful death
- Amputations/dismemberment
- Scarring
- Severe trauma
- On-going medical care
To know if your case qualifies for a lawsuit, consult with your attorney.
Get Started with Your Claim Today
If you have recently been involved in a car accident, call Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers immediately. We can help you seek the compensation you deserve to help cover damages you were not expecting to pay as a result of someone else’s negligence on the road.
We have been helping those in Boynton Beach, Florida, for four decades. Our expertise in the field has helped us recover millions for our clients, which means we know we can help you do the same.
We start each case off with a free no-obligation case evaluation between you and one of our attorneys. This is your chance to inquire more about our services and how we can help you with our highly awarded skills.
Scheduling your consultation is easy. All you have to do is call (561) 800-8000 or fill out our form online. We will promptly reach out to schedule a day and time for you to come in.
Call Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers today.