In the aftermath of a car accident, you may not know what to do. It can be scary, and if you suffered injuries, you may be unable to move.
One of the most important things you should do is contact the police. The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles explains you will likely need to file a report with law enforcement at some point, and it is essential to know when. You also need to collect information that can help you in the future.
Contact law enforcement
The law says if your accident resulted in damages of $500 or more or hurt any person, you must contact the police right away. You should never leave the scene unless an officer says you can. YOu could face additional charges for leaving the scene of an accident.
Get information
You need to try to collect as much information as possible. If you are hurt, ask your passengers if possible to get you information about the other vehicle and driver. You will need these details later when you contact an attorney.
File proper documents
You may need to file many documents in the days following your accident. Your insurer should help you to know what they need to file your claim. Law enforcement should also give you instructions on what to do next and if you need to provide them additional documentation. Finally, the motor vehicle department may also need information from you. Make sure that you get legal advice before handing over any information not required by law. This will help to protect you should the other party try to place blame on you for the accident or a legal issue comes up.
Remember that after an accident, you may not be thinking clearly, but it is important that you do the basics of contacting law enforcement and gathering information from the other driver.
