Every year, Miami, Florida, experiences more than 60,000 car accidents, about 20,000 of which result in injuries. Being injured in a car crash can leave you reeling, unsure of what to do next. And unfortunately, the actions you take in that immediate aftermath can impact your chances of recovering a settlement in a personal injury case.
There are a few steps you can take after you’re injured in a car accident that can give you the best chances of a full recovery, both physically and financially. The Miami car accident lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you recover the compensation you deserve. We have decades of legal experience and have won tens of millions for our clients.
Contact us today in Miami, Florida at (305) 937-0191, to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. In this article, our Miami car accident attorneys explain what to do after your car accident.
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Get a Florida Police Report
One of the first things you need to do after car accident is to call 911 and get a report filed. Your police report will be an important piece of evidence if you wind up filing a personal injury claim. It will provide an official record of your wreck that can be used later to corroborate your account.
The police will also be able to get information from witnesses on the scene, including their contact info. This will make it easier to contact them if you wind up needing them to testify at trial.
A police report can also help to establish who’s “at fault”, which can be important even though Florida is a no-fault state.
Get Immediate Medical Treatment
Of course, the most important thing you can do after your car accident is to get immediate medical treatment. You need to make sure your health is protected and that you’re getting the care you need. And with many conditions, the sooner you get treatment, the better your outcome will be.
On the more pragmatic end of things, it’s also important to start getting medical records as soon as possible. These will be important for documenting your injuries and the progress of your recovery.
All this evidence can help to document your pain and suffering and help you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
Describe Your Injuries in Detail
When you’re talking to your doctors, it’s important that you be as open and honest with them as possible.
For one thing, telling them about all your symptoms, no matter how small, can help you get the best treatment possible. Your doctors will better be able to diagnose you and keep track of your progress the more they know.
Unfortunately, some injuries and complications can take time to show up after your initial accident. In some cases, you may even be past the statute of limitations when the injury shows up. Having documentation of the early symptoms of this injury can help you prove that it was a result of your accident and make sure you can get compensation for it.
Don’t Talk to an Insurance Company
One of the single most important things you can do after an injury is to avoid talking to an insurance company – even your own.
Your agent may seem like they have good intentions when they call you, and they may even offer you a settlement. But often, this is an attempt to get you to take a lowball offer while they get information that will block you from claiming your full settlement. When you’re injured and scared, you aren’t in a good place to have your guard up against insurance tactics.
Avoid releasing a statement of any kind to an insurance company in the days after your accident. Let them know the accident occurred, but do not give them any details about either the crash or your injuries.
Under no circumstances should you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
Do Talk to a Miami Attorney
After your doctors, the first person you should talk to following a car accident injury is a personal injury lawyer. If the accident was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to compensation. And the key to building a good case is gathering evidence as soon as possible.
Your lawyer can also help you craft a statement to your insurance company that won’t compromise your chances of getting the biggest possible settlement.
Most personal injury lawyers in Miami, Florida, work on a contingency basis, meaning you won’t have to pay them unless they get a settlement for you. The best also offer free consultations with no obligation required, so you face no risk when you call a personal injury lawyer.
Keep Detailed Notes
While your medical records and police report will provide an official record of your accident, none of those provide your perspective. No one experiences your accident in the same way you do.
Unfortunately, in the blur of stress after an injury, it can be easy to forget details.
As soon as you can after your injury, it’s a good idea to start taking notes about your accident. Write down everything you can remember about the accident and about your injuries, including all your symptoms. Make sketches of the accident scene and keep detailed notes about all your treatment.
Follow All Your Doctor’s Orders
Once your treatment is underway, the best thing you can do is to follow all your doctor’s orders to the letter.
You’re much more likely to have a positive outcome with your recovery if you take your meds on time, follow your physical therapy regimen, and attend all appointments. You’ll also be able to keep more detailed medical records if you’re regularly attending appointments.
But aside from giving yourself the best shot at a full recovery, following your doctor’s orders can give you the best chance of getting compensation. If you can prove you followed all your medical advice, it can help to show the severity of your injuries. And proving that you made a good faith effort to make a full recovery can demonstrate that you deserve full compensation.
Get the Representation You Deserve From a Miami, Florida Car Accident Lawyer
A car accident can be devastating, and the resulting injuries can leave you in a tailspin. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, the first things you need to do are to get a police report and seek medical attention. Take detailed notes, avoid talking to an insurance agent, and talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after your insurance agent.
At Shaked Law, we have more than a century of combined experience recovering settlements for our clients. We have a no-win, no-fee guarantee, and our consultations are always risk-free. Schedule your free consultation with us today to discuss the details of your case.
Common Miami Car Accident Claims We Handle
Our law firm handles all types of car accident claims in Miami-Dade County involving:
- Airbag injuries
- Chest injuries
- Distracted driving
- Defective tire accidents
- Drunk driving
- Head-on crashes
- Highway crashes
- Hit-and-run accidents
- I-95 accidents
- Intersection crashes
- Lane change accidents
- Left-turn crashes
- Multi-vehicle car crashes
- Parking lot accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Red and yellow light accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Seatbelt Injuries
- Self-driving accidents
- Single vehicle accidents
- Speeding accidents
- SUV rollover accidents
- U-turn accidents
- Uninsured motorists claims
Additional Car Accident Resources
- Car Accident Neck Injury Statistics in Florida
- Car Color & Crash Risk
- Car Inspection Laws in Florida
- Florida Child Car Seat Laws
- How To Obtain an Accident Report in Miami, FL
- Miami Car Accident Claims Process
- Miami Car Accident Liability
- Miami, FL Car Accident FAQs
- Most Dangerous Roads Intersections in Miami, FL
- Passenger Negligence
- Road Defects in Miami, FL
- When To Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident
Car Accident FAQs
- Can I Be Compensated for Pre-Existing Conditions After a Car Accident in Miami?
- Can I Recover Compensation After a Miami Car Accident Without a Lawyer?
- Can I Be Reimbursed For Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Miami, FL?
- Do I Need a Lawyer After a Hit and Run Accident in Miami?
- How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take to Settle in Miami, FL?
- Is It a Mistake to Admit Fault After a Car Accident in Miami, FL?
- Left-Turn Collision: Who Is At Fault?
- What if the Other Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?
- What Should I Do If My Child Was Hurt in a Miami Car Accident?
- Who Will Pay My Medical Bills After a Car Accident in Miami, FL?