The steps you take immediately after a multi-vehicle accident and in the days and weeks that follow can have a big impact on your health, your finances, your family, and your future. Unfortunately, many people involved in Jacksonville car crashes make innocent mistakes early on that can make it more difficult to secure fair compensation.
The best source of information about what to do–and not to–after a multi-vehicle accident is an experienced car accident attorney in Jacksonville. You can schedule a free consultation with a car crash lawyer at Harrell & Harrell right now by calling (904) 251-1111 or filling out our contact information. The information in this post will give you a general overview, but there’s no substitute for personalized guidance from an experienced professional.
First Steps after a Multi-Vehicle Accident
Immediately after the Accident
The first steps after a multi-vehicle accident are generally the same as they would be after any car accident:
- Check yourself for injuries
- Call 911
- Move to safety if necessary
- If you are able, exchange insurance information with all other drivers involved
- If you are able to do so safely, take photos or video of the accident scene
- If you are able to do so safely, collect contact information from any possible witnesses
- Allow emergency medical personnel to check you out if you believe you may be injured
When You Leave the Scene of the Accident
Medical Care
The first thing you should do when you’re able to leave the accident scene is make a realistic assessment about whether you need to see a doctor or visit the emergency room. Many people want to delay seeking medical care because they’re worn out and shaken up after the accident, and because it seems natural to be stiff and/or sore just after your whole body has been jarred by a motor vehicle crash.
That’s usually a bad idea. While you may be experiencing short-term pain from the impact of the collision, many potentially serious injuries may not be immediately obvious. For example, it’s not uncommon to have a headache after a stressful event. But traumatic brain injuries are among the most common serious injuries people suffer in head on crashes, and you have no way of knowing how serious an injury is. Some people walk away from an accident with only a headache or slight dizziness, and then develop more serious symptoms in the days that follow. Similarly, a spinal injury may worsen with swelling or internal bleeding you don’t know about, or may be aggravated as you move around.
Failing to seek medical attention right away can also jeopardize your claim for damages. If you don’t see a doctor right away, the insurance company’s attorney will likely argue that something that happened after the accident might have caused the accident. Or, they may claim that you are partly responsible for your own injury because the condition worsened because you didn’t get proper treatment.
Of course, your auto accident lawyer will refute those claims and present whatever evidence is available to support your claim. However, that potential weakness in the case may make the insurance company less likely to offer a fair settlement and may even make it harder to win the case at trial. Generally, the best way to protect your health and your case is to seek medical care right away if you believe you may have been injured.
Documentation
As soon as you are able, start organizing and preserving information about your accident. If you took pictures or videos on your phone at the scene, copy them to your computer or a flash drive (but don’t delete the originals). Keep whatever paperwork you have, such as insurance information from other drivers, the police report and your discharge summary from the hospital together in a place you’ll remember. You’ll likely be adding to this folder over time.
You may also want to write down everything you remember about the accident as soon as possible afterward. When something traumatic happens, it may feel like the vivid details will be with you forever. But when it’s time to provide the exact sequence of events a year or two down the road, it may be much more difficult than you imagine. Making notes right after the event can help you refresh your memory.
Protecting Your Case
Though everything else on this list is a “to do,” this one is a don’t. Don’t talk to another driver’s insurance company, and don’t talk about your accident on social media or share too many details with anyone–at least until you have talked with a local car accident attorney. Innocent statements that seem perfectly harmless to you could be taken out of context and used against you, or small discrepancies used to suggest that you are dishonest or that your memory of the accident is unreliable.
Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer in Jacksonville
The Florida statute of limitations for most car accidents is two years. That means that in most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. However, it’s generally not a good idea to delay talking to a car accident attorney. One key reason is that it’s important to get advice you can count on as soon as possible, to avoid mistakes that could hurt your car accident case. But, there are many others.
In some circumstances, the time to provide notice of the claim may be shorter. Even when you have two years to file, important evidence can be lost and witness memories may fade if you wait too long to retain a car accident lawyer and move your case forward. Delaying your claim can also delay the resolution of your case, which means it will take longer for you to receive the compensation you may need to stabilize your finances after a serious injury.
You can schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a Harrell & Harrell personal injury attorney who has expertise in car accident cases. Just call (904) 251-1111 or fill out our contact form.