What Should I Do After an Accident?

Remember, it is important that you call a lawyer as soon as possible following the accident. At Jones Law Group, we only get paid if we recover money for you, so you only stand to gain in having the accident reviewed by skilled legal representation to ensure that you recover the damages you are entitled to. Remember, the sooner you call us, the sooner we can visit the scene and begin an investigation and an accurate recreation of the accident. Prompt legal representation is key to your economic recovery because the evidence at the scene of an accident degrades and the memories of witnesses fade. At Jones Law Group, we understand that time is of the essence and we will act swiftly to discover and preserve all of the available evidence that will later support your claims.

What Should I Do After an Accident?

The outcome of your auto accident claim and any damages you recover are dependent largely on what you do immediately following the accident.

Summon the Police – Always summon the police to the scene. Do not let the person who just caused an accident convince you to “keep the cops out of it.”

Seek medical treatment – If you or anyone in your car suffers injuries, immediately seek medical treatment. Don’t be the tough guy; untreated injuries may cause future physical complications for you. In Florida, your claim against the insurance company may be compromised by failing to promptly seek medical treatment.

Take pictures — It is important that you take pictures of the accident. Photos of both your car and that of the other party, as well as pictures of the surrounding area, can help to prove fault. Remember, you can never take too many pictures.

Obtain the other driver’s personal information – Make sure you get the name, address and phone number of the other driver, as well as their insurance information. Determine the owner of the car by looking at the registration. Take pictures of their license, insurance card, vehicle registration and license plate.

Don’t give a statement — You should never give a statement to an insurance company without first speaking to an attorney. Also, never say anything about fault at the scene of the accident.

Don’t say you’re not injured — Whether you feel you are injured or not, do not state that you are not injured and do not feel any pain immediately after the accident to the police or other people involved in the accident. Some injuries show symptoms later, and saying that you were not hurt may compromise your claim for injuries for which you were unaware during the excitement and adrenaline rush immediately following the accident.

Get witness contact information — If anyone saw the accident, make sure that you get his or her contact information.

Let your own insurance company know — Contact your insurance company as soon as possible and provide your account of how the incident occurred. Do not give a medical diagnosis or a statement of your injuries. That is what doctors do.

Keep all documents — From bills to lists of doctors you visited, document everything and keep all receipts. These will be important in establishing how much you should recover in damages.

At Jones Law Group, we will skillfully guide you through the process of recovering the damages you are entitled to. If you don’t recover damages, we don’t get paid.

To schedule a free, no-pressure consultation to review the details of your auto injury or accident and assess what you are able to recover, please call our office at 727-571-1333. If it is after hours or on a weekend, please call 727-348-8962. You may also email us at hmurphy@bobbyjoneslaw.com.

Jones Law Group
5622 Central Avenue
St. Pete, FL 33707