If You Have Been Involved in an Accident...

First, you should stop! Never leave the scene of an accident, even a minor one, without first stopping to see whether there are damages to the vehicles or property, or injuries to the occupants. A person may be criminally prosecuted, as a hit and run driver, for leaving the scene of an accident.

Secure the Crash Scene

Move yourself and others to a position of safety. Standing on the roadway or sitting in a disabled car may expose you to an even worse accident.

If there are injuries, try not to move the injured person, giving consideration to all other safety concerns. Call the police, paramedics, and other emergency services to report the accident and get an ambulance. If you are unable to call, ask somebody else to call. It is very important to seek medical attention for any injuries as quickly as possible. If treatment is delayed, the at-fault party may claim that it was something other than his or her negligence that caused your injury. Even minor injuries should be addressed quickly, since they can quickly develop into major health problems.

If possible, notify oncoming traffic to proceed with caution by setting out flares, using your hazard warning lights, or raising the hood of trunk of your vehicle.

Obtain Necessary Information

You and the other driver(s) involved in the automobile accident should exchange information, including the other driver(s): name, address, phone number, drivers license number, license plate number, name of the insurance carrier, policy numbers, agent's name and telephone number. You should also provide the same information to the other driver(s).

Be sure to obtain identifying information from any witnesses to the accident. Information gathered immediately after the accident will be much more reliable than any recalled at some later date. Take notes about all the details of the accident: date and time of the accident, location of the accident, year, make and color of all vehicles involved, road conditions, speed limits, traffic control devices, weather, lighting, and what the cars were doing at the time of the collision.

Photograph your injuries and the damages to your vehicle. Try to take pictures and document the accident scene and the damage to all the vehicles. But only do so if it is safe!

Going forward, keep a daily diary describing and documenting any pain, suffering or injuries and how it affects you or your family. But remember, you may be required to share notes and photographs if you end up in litigation related to the accident.

Cooperate with the Police

When the accident investigator arrives to talk to you, tell them only the facts of what happened, and do not draw any conclusions. Do not admit responsibility for the accident to the other drivers, passengers, witnesses or the police. Responsibility or liability is a legal matter that is not always a simple matter. The other driver may share the fault or other factors may have caused the accident.

Please keep in mind that anything you say to anyone after the vehicle crash may be admissible against you, so it is vital to only provide accurate information. An admission of fault may be used against you later on.

Make sure that you ask the police officer who investigates the scene to provide you with a business card and the "incident number," so that you can obtain a copy of the accident report. These police reports are usually available a brief time after the automobile accident occurred. When you get the police report of the automobile accident, make sure it matches your recollection.

Do not leave the scene of the accident until the police tell you that you can leave.

After the Accident

As soon as possible after the accident, if you believe you have been injured, consult a physician and document any pain that you may experience. There may be a time lag between the collision and full awareness of the extent of your injuries. Certain injuries may not be apparent until some time after an accident. By not seeing a doctor, you risk delaying your treatment and aggravating your injury. Even minor soreness can be an indication of a more significant injury. If you believe there is any chance you may have been injured, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. In fact, failure to go to an emergency room after an accident may limit your PIP/No-Fault insurance coverage benefit under recently enacted legislation. An insurance company may argue that the failure of an individual to see a doctor right away indicates that an injury must have resulted from an unrelated event after the accident. The longer you wait for medical treatment, the more difficult it will be to connect the injuries to the accident. Be sure to report any memory loss, headaches, blood or fluid in your ear, dizziness, ringing in your ears, disorientation, nausea, or confusion.

Be careful to document all losses related to your accident, including: medical bills, reasonable transportation costs related to the injuries, future medical treatment, lost wages, estimates of future loss of earnings, the effect on your family, the effect on your life. Persons injured in an automobile, car, motor vehicle, ATV, 4-Wheeler (Quad), 3-Wheeler (Trike), aircraft, airplane, boat, jet ski, motorcycle, sportbike, dirt bike, bicycle, truck or commercial vehicle accident can suffer injuries ranging from soft tissue injuries, including a sprain, strain, whiplash, bruise, abrasion, scarring or disfigurement, to more serious catastrophic injuries, broken bones, spinal injuries, concussions, paralysis, traumatic brain injury (TBI) or death.

Protect Your Interests

If you have not yet contacted an attorney, you should contact the Kane Law Firm, P.A. as soon as possible to help you make an injury claim or deal with your insurance issues. It is important that you obtain legal advice before filling out any insurance documents, giving recorded statements to any insurance company, or meeting with an insurance company representative. It is especially important to consult an attorney before giving a statement to the other driver's insurance company. Do not sign any check or document from any insurance company without first consulting with a personal injury attorney.

If you have been injured in an automobile accident, you should contact an experienced personal injury accident lawyer who can evaluate your claim and protect your legal rights. Keep in mind that there are time limitations (statutes of limitations) involved with filing your claim. As a result, it is important to act quickly and contact a lawyer with any questions or issues. An experienced personal injury accident attorney will help determine your entitlement to medical benefits and other compensation. For general information on what you may qualify for, please visit our page on potential recoverable damages. It is important to begin the investigation, identify witnesses, record their statements, and to identify and preserve all physical evidence as soon as possible.

Contact the Kane Law Firm, P.A.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a vehicular accident, please call the Accident Attorneys at the Central Florida Offices of the Kane Law Firm, P.A. in Orlando, Florida, at (407) 898-9130, submit a simple contact form on our website, or email us at Info@KaneInjury.com.

We offer a free initial consultation, and if we agree to take your case, we will work on a contingency basis. This means we will get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds.