Car accidents are more common than any of us would like to believe. 77% of respondents to one recent insurance-industry study said they’d been in at least one motor vehicle accident. In Florida alone, there were more than 395,000 car crashes in 2023. More than 250,000 people were injured in those collisions, and another 3,412 were killed.
The upshot of these somewhat daunting statistics is that most of us will experience a car accident at some point–perhaps more than one. It can be difficult to think clearly in a traumatic situation, so it’s best to be prepared in advance. Of course, you don’t have to figure it all out alone. A car accident lawyer in Jacksonville can be your best resource after a motor vehicle accident. These steps can help you navigate the immediate aftermath of a crash, up to the time you connect with your car accident attorney.
7 Steps to Protect Yourself After a Crash
1. Stay Safe and Assess the Situation
A car crash can be disorienting. Before you do anything, take the time to take a deep breath, look around, and understand the situation you’re in. For example, your instinct may be to jump out of the car right away after a collision. But, it’s important to take stock. Your car could be in the midst of fast-moving traffic, or may have come to rest partway in a ditch or in some other place where you won’t be stepping out onto level ground. Make sure it’s safe to exit the vehicle and find a safe place to move to before you get out of the car. Similarly, if you’re considering staying in the car and waiting for help, assess whether your car is at risk of being hit again and whether there are other hazards like leaking gas.
2. Check for Injuries
This is part of the initial assessment, but important enough that it deserves to be called out separately. Before you do anything, assess yourself for injuries. If you have any doubt about whether you can move around safely, don’t. If you are able to do so safely, check to see whether anyone else has been injured. That includes people in your vehicle, those outside the vehicle, and those in the car you collided with.
3. Call 911
It may seem strange that calling 911 comes in at #3 on this list instead of #1. But when you call 911, they’ll ask you questions like “Is anyone injured?” If you say yes, they’ll ask follow-up questions about the number of injured people and the nature and seriousness of the injuries. Quickly assessing injuries first will allow you to give them accurate information right away, which can save lives.
Calling 911 will also fulfill your obligation under Florida law to report the accident to local law enforcement if anyone is injured or killed, or if there is property damage in excess of $500.
4. Exchange Information With Any Other Drivers Involved
After a car accident, you should provide your name, contact information, and automobile insurance information to other drivers involved in the accident and collect the same from them. If a driver involved in the accident refuses to provide this information, don’t get into a conflict about it. When the police arrive, they will gather that information. Florida law provides a process for you to obtain that information later if the other driver chooses not to share. Your car accident lawyer can even request the information on your behalf.
Keep the exchange of information to the basics, though. Don’t try to sort out what happened with the other driver or take responsibility for the crash.
5. Document the Scene
Assuming you are well enough to do so safely, your next step should be to gather some evidence. If you can, you should take photos and/or video of the scene of the accident before vehicles are moved and debris is cleared out of the roadway. (This should not, however, delay you in moving vehicles out of the lane of traffic if they are creating a hazard and you can safely move them.)
You will also want to gather contact information from anyone who witnessed the accident, and ask them to preserve any photos or videos and share them with you. Also, keep in mind that there may be video from fixed cameras such as traffic cameras or security systems. Look around to see whether there are cameras that may have captured the accident, and let your car crash lawyer know about them right away. That type of video isn’t always maintained, so your lawyer may need to act quickly to get a copy.
6. Seek Medical Attention
Many people brush off emergency responders who want to check them out at the scene and are reluctant to go to the hospital after the crash. Sometimes, that’s because the injured person is experiencing an adrenaline rush after the crash, and isn’t aware of the extent of their injuries. Sometimes, it’s just because the experience is jarring and exhausting and they just want to go home.
Unfortunately, playing wait-and-see after a car accident can put both your health and your claim for damages at risk. Some injuries don’t seem serious right away, but can worsen as you move around or even just as time passes. In some cases, delaying treatment can extend recovery time, or even cause permanent injury. It may also be difficult to prove that your injuries were a result of the car accident if you aren’t assessed soon after the accident.
7. Connect with a Car Accident Attorney in Jacksonville
The sooner you talk to an experienced Jacksonville car accident lawyer, the better. Your lawyer can help you protect your claim from the beginning, gathering evidence while it is fresh and memories are clear and managing interactions with the insurance company for you. Getting an early start gives your attorney the best opportunity to build the strongest possible case for you, and protects you from insurance companies looking to save money on your claim.
Harrell & Harrell is Here for You
The experienced injury lawyers at Harrell & Harrell know how important it is for you to have reliable information and guidance after a Jacksonville car accident. We offer free consultations to make it easy for you to get the help you need. To learn more, call (904) 251-1111 or fill out our contact form right now.
