Learn How to Protect Your Legal Rights from an Experienced Tallahassee Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Tallahassee, there are some important steps you need to take to protect your legal rights. Along with contacting a Tallahassee car accident lawyer, here are some additional steps you should try to take as soon as possible:

What To Do After a Car Accident in Tallahassee

Contact the Police and a Tallahassee Accident Lawyer

You should contact the police and report the accident immediately, even if no one appears to be seriously injured or your vehicles are drivable. For one, the police will secure the accident scene and make it safe. More importantly, the police will prepare an accident report that will reflect the details of the accident and the parties involved. It may also indicate who was at fault. The accident report may be critical if you need to pursue a claim later on. Once the report is made, seek legal guidance from a skilled auto accident attorney as soon as possible. You may have several options available to you under the law.

Exchange Insurance and Contact Information with the Other Driver

You will need to get the following information from the other driver: 

• Name, address, phone number, and email address
• Insurance company, name of insured, and policy numbers
• Make, model, and color of their vehicle

Most of this information should be reflected on their auto insurance card. Regardless, you should also ask to see their driver’s license just to make their identity and information. If they seem reluctant or unable to produce either of these documents, be sure to get the license plate number of their vehicle and their contact information. 

•  Report the Accident (But Don’t Give a Recorded Statement)

When you get injured in a car accident, you are required to report the accident to law enforcement. You must also report the accident to your insurance company. However, when speaking with your insurance representative, you must be very careful not to give a recorded statement. At this stage, anything you say will only be used against you. Once you engage a Tallahassee car accident lawyer, your lawyer will be able to deal with the insurance companies on your behalf.

Document the Scene of the Accident

You should make an effort to document the accident scene to the extent you can. Use your smartphone’s camera to take pictures of the following: 

• Damage to both vehicles
• Any injuries you may have suffered
• Any relevant signage

Take pictures from multiple angles and different perspectives. If you need to make a claim later on, you may need close up photos and pictures that depict the overall scene. An experienced Tallahassee auto accident lawyer can review your images and determine which ones will help build your claim. 

•  Preserve as Much Evidence and Information as Possible

It is also important to try to preserve as much evidence and information as possible. If you have any damaged personal items or pieces of your vehicle, keep them—don’t throw them away. Also, be sure to keep any photos and videos you took with your phone, and take 10-15 minutes to write down every single detail you can remember about the crash.

•  Start Documenting Your Financial and Non-Financial Losses

When you have a car accident claim in Tallahassee, it is up to you to prove how much you are entitled to recover. This means that you should start documenting your financial and non-financial losses immediately. Keep track of your medical bills and expenses, keep track of any days you miss from work, and start a journal where you write down all of the various ways your injuries negatively impact your daily life.

Seek Medical Attention

It’s not uncommon for people to feel “fine” immediately after a car accident and decline an ambulance. You should not decline the ambulance if you are seriously injured. However, if you did not receive medical attention at the scene or did not go to the ER immediately after, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is not uncommon for accident victims to begin experiencing pain and other symptoms in the days following your accident. 

•  Get Treatment for Your Injuries (and Follow Your Doctor’s Advice)

One of the first things you should do after being injured in a car accident is to get treatment for your injuries. Once you receive a diagnosis, follow your doctor’s advice, and make sure you know what you need to do to recover as fully and quickly as possible.

• Avoid Mistakes that Could Jeopardize Your Claim for Just Compensation

Finally, you need to avoid making mistakes that could jeopardize your claim for just compensation. Along with giving a recorded statement, this includes things like ignoring your doctor’s advice, posting about the accident on social media, and settling your claim before you know how much you are entitled to recover. Your lawyer can help you here as well, and you can rely on your lawyer throughout the process to help you make informed decisions with your long-term best interests in mind.

Contact a Tallahassee Car Accident Lawyer at Searcy Denney

To learn more about the process of recovering your losses after a collision, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call 800-780-8607 or get in touch online to speak with a Tallahassee car accident lawyer in confidence as soon as possible.