What Are the Top Seven Things to Do After getting injured in a Florida Car Accident?​

1. Seek emergency medical treatment for yourself or for your loved ones and anyone else in the accident.

2. Contact law enforcement as soon as possible to generate a police report with all the identifying information about the incident.

Almost any lawyer will chat with you about your case. So, before you speak to an insurance adjuster, contact a lawyer. Find out what their options are and make sure they are following the steps that they would advise. Lawyers can give you helpful information whether or not you sign up with them. If you'd like to speak with us at Taft Street, give us a call (833) 823-8529 or click here.

There may be peaks and valleys in terms of your health. You might be feeling very good one day, then very bad the next day, and very good the day after that. If you keep a daily journal, it can be very simple to keep track. I usually recommend that clients get a notebook because it’s useful to keep track of certain things including how they are feeling, sleep, appetite, mobility, lack of mobility, moods, and all the things that are really important throughout the claims process. 

3. Follow up on any medical treatment referral from the providers in step one.

5. Talk to your insurance company to report the accident and let them know what is going on right away.

Any time you are forced to miss work because of an injury from an car accident, you should be entitled to those lost wages. Even if you use vacation or sick time while you are recovering, keep track of it diligently.

4. Contact an experienced Florida car accident attorney

Not every car accident claim requires the use of an attorney. Claims that involve only personal property damage can probably be settled on your own. However, it doesn't hurt to consult with an attorney. You need to protect yourself in case injuries manifest later. We offer free car accident consultations and we'll help you find the right attorney even if we can't take your case.

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Do I absolutely need to tell my insurance company if I am injured in an car accident?​

What to Do If You Are Injured in a Florida Car Accident

If An Injury Does Not Manifest Until Later, What Are My Options for Filing a Claim?

You should. Most insurance policies have a requirement that people cooperate with their own company in terms of an investigation. People often get nervous about that. They think that if they let their insurance company know that they were in an accident, they’ll raise their rates. The answer to that is that it won’t necessarily raise their rates. It is important to notify your insurance company as soon as possible so that you may be able to collect uninsured motorist coverage or medical payments coverage. Best practice is to alert your insurance company and tell them you are unsure whether you will file a claim with them yet because you may not need to.

A common occurrence is when a victim of an auto accident has a whiplash neck injury or back injury, but they feel fine after the accident. Instead of taking the ambulance to the hospital, they get a ride home. Later on, however, the pain manifests. It could be that night, or days later.

Once the adrenaline from the accident wears off and your body starts to feel pain, you might realize you have a claim for car accident damages in Florida. It is important to seek medical attention as soon as pain manifests if you haven't already been treated.

When seeking medical attention, it is important to tell your doctor that you have been injured in an auto accident and that the accident is listed as a cause of the pain. Medical providers and insurance companies use specific coding when treating injuries and auto accident victims tend to receive similar types of care.

So if you have sustained a back injury, neck injury, or other type of injury in an auto accident, it is important that the physician notes that in your medical records.

The above material was adapted from an interview with Florida car accident attorney Charles J. Esposito, esq. of Taft Street Law Firm. It is not intended to be legal advice. This is not an exhaustive list of all the things you should do after being injured in an auto accident.

6. Keep a journal of your recovery

7. Keep track of time missed at work

Florida Auto Accident Attorneys

Do I even need a Car Accident Attorney?

If you go to the doctor and then do not follow what the doctor tells you to do to treat yourself, your car accident claim will be impacted negatively.  If you have to go to trial against an insurance company, they will most definitely say that your injuries could not have been that serious because you didn't treat them properly.

Your insurance company is there to help you. They should know you were in an accident. You can find out policy specifics like what your underinsured motorist coverage is. You can also tell them you're not sure if you're filing a claim yet, but you want them to be aware of the accident.

Usually the police arrive at the scene of an accident, but not always. Make sure a police report is generated because it can clarify the facts of what happened, identify witnesses, and be an asset to your case against the person who caused the accident. Police reports, however, are not admissible in court.

If you call us up from the hospital (or ambulance!) before you receive any medical treatment, we're going to tell you to go to a doctor, get treated, make sure you're okay, and then give us a call afterwards. Your health and safety is the most important thing to take care of after a car accident.