{"id":2138,"date":"2017-11-07T22:38:38","date_gmt":"2017-11-07T22:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anidjarlevine.com\/?page_id=2138"},"modified":"2025-01-21T18:45:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T18:45:12","slug":"faqs-what-should-i-do-if-i-am-involved-in-a-car-accident","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.anidjarlevine.com\/es\/preguntas-frecuentes\/que-debo-hacer-si-estoy-involucrado-en-un-accidente-de-auto\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00bfQu\u00e9 debo hacer si estoy involucrado en un accidente de auto?"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a <\/span>Fort Lauderdale car accident<\/span><\/a>, you may find yourself traumatized, potentially injured, or in shock, and you may not know what to do next. However, this knowledge can protect you and your finances. The nine most important things you should if you\u2019re involved in a car accident are:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Get to a safe place<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Dial 911<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Seek medical attention<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Gather evidence<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Take care of your vehicle<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Report the accident to your insurance company<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Document your injuries and damages<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Keep up with doctors\u2019 appointments<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Protect your legal rights<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Although every car accident is different, these nine steps will help to ensure your health and safety and preserve your right to seek compensation from the insurance company for any injuries and damages you sustained.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"What<\/p>\n

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    \"What<\/a><\/code><\/p>\n

    What To Do At The Scene<\/h2>\n

    1: Get To A Safe Place<\/h3>\n

    Your priority at the scene of an accident is getting to safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

    This means standing well off the shoulder if you are on an expressway or well out of the flow of traffic if the crash occurred on a city street.<\/span><\/p>\n

    2: Dial 911<\/h3>\n

    Once you are safely off the roadway, dial 911 and report the accident.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Unless the car accident was truly a minor \u201cfender bender\u201d (i.e., absolutely no or very little damage to either car), ask the operator to dispatch emergency medical personnel. This is critical for the health of everyone involved as well as for preserving your legal right to recover compensation.<\/span><\/p>\n

    3: Seek Medical Attention<\/h3>\n

    Even if you feel fine, let the emergency medical technicians check you over when they arrive.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Car accident victims often sustain concussions, whiplash, and internal injuries, most of which will not manifest immediately after the crash. You may also be in shock, which can mask symptoms or pain that would otherwise be obvious to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you do not seek treatment at the scene but later learn you did sustain injuries, the other side\u2019s insurer may assert you did not sustain your injuries in the crash. This can harm your chances of obtaining a fair financial settlement for your injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

    4: Gather Evidence<\/h3>\n

    Take as many photos of the scene as possible and write down all pertinent details.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Try to take photos of each vehicle involved \u2014 from as many angles as possible \u2014 as well as the overall scene. Take photos of any road hazards, traffic signs or markings, skid marks, and any other details that could potentially provide important context later.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Get the names and contact information for everyone involved in the accident as well as any witnesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

    5: Take Care Of Your Vehicle<\/h3>\n

    Even if your car appears roadworthy, you may want to call a towing service to take the vehicle to a repair shop.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Your vehicle may have hidden damage that could make it unsafe to drive. Also, driving the vehicle could cause further harm \u2014 especially if it lost oil, water, or other important mechanical fluids or components.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you do not have a collision damage repair shop you prefer, ask the towing service to deliver it to your regular auto mechanic.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you can do so safely, you must move your car off the roadway. If possible, try to take pictures of the vehicles and their positions before you move.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you cannot move your car, sit inside it with your seat belt fastened.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    After You Have Left The Scene<\/h2>\n

    6: Report To Your Insurance Company<\/h3>\n

    You must report any accident to your insurance company as soon as reasonably possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you fail to report the accident, even if you do not plan to file a claim with your insurer, you may violate the terms of your policy. However, do not provide anything more than the basic details, and do not admit fault.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Note<\/b>: If the other driver\u2019s insurer contacts you, watch what you say. If the adjuster requests a recorded statement, decline until you have spoken to a lawyer.<\/span><\/p>\n

    7: Document Your Injuries And Damages<\/h3>\n

    After a car accident, start keeping careful notes of your injuries and damages.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Record any symptoms you have, noting dates and times and visits to the doctor or other medical treatment. Keep track of receipts and other documents that support damages you sustained, such as bills from the towing company.<\/span><\/p>\n

    In The Weeks And Months That Follow<\/h2>\n

    8: Continue Medical Care<\/h3>\n

    You must continue attending doctors\u2019 appointments and obey your doctor\u2019s orders. If you cease medical care, the insurer can argue that you are contributing to your injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

    9: Protect Your Legal Rights<\/h3>\n

    The best way to protect your legal rights\u00a0after a car accident is to speak to a lawyer.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A car accident lawyer can help protect your legal rights and explain your options for filing an insurance claim, either with your insurance company or the other driver\u2019s insurance. Your lawyer can help you determine where to get your car fixed and get you the right treatment for your injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Should I Take An Ambulance After A Car Accident?<\/h2>\n

    If you have injuries after a\u00a0car accident, particularly if they are serious, you should take an ambulance to the nearest medical facility to get checked out.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0What Should I Do Immediately After A Car Accident?<\/h3>\n

    If you have serious injuries from a car accident, your sole focus should be on getting to a hospital as quickly as possible. If you have access to a phone and are physically able,\u00a0call 911 yourself and summon an ambulance. Otherwise, try to get the attention of someone nearby and have them call for help if they have not done so already.<\/span><\/p>\n

    If you do not feel you need an ambulance to transport you to the hospital for immediate medical attention \u2014 and you should err on the side of caution here \u2014 then you should try to gather as much evidence as possible at the\u00a0scene of the crash.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Take pictures of the accident scene, focusing on getting footage from as many angles and vantage points as you can \u2014 close-ups that show the extent of the damage to your vehicle, as well as panned-out shots revealing the broader scene and the angle at which the vehicles collided.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Also, if you are able, try to talk to witnesses on the scene, gathering statements from them and collecting their contact information. Such evidence can help your attorney tremendously as he or she builds a case against the responsible party and pursues them for compensation.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Then,\u00a0even if your injuries seem minor (or nonexistent), see a doctor for a medical exam as soon as possible, preferably the same day of the accident.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Why Should I Get Medical Help Even If I Do Not Look Or Feel Injured?<\/h3>\n

    There are\u00a0two reasons why you should get medical help\u00a0even though you do not look or feel injured:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. You might be injured but not realize it; and<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. It can help you and your attorney win compensation against the at-fault driver.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      First, you might be injured but not realize it. Some injuries \u2014 particularly\u00a0head injuries\u00a0\u2014 can take days or weeks to manifest. And by the time these injuries present symptoms, they are often more severe and harder to treat than if you had addressed them right after they occurred.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Your health is too important to neglect to save a couple of hours and a doctor\u2019s office copay after an accident. Just the peace of mind that you will receive when the doctor examines you, and confirms you have no injuries is worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Second, it can help you and your attorney win compensation against the at-fault driver. If you do happen to have injuries, for the sake of your case against the other driver, you want to treat them as quickly as possible to draw a strong causal link between the crash and your injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

      If weeks or months elapse between the wreck and your injury diagnosis, the at-fault party, and his or her lawyer, could cast doubt on your claims, arguing that something might have happened in the interim that was the real cause of your injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Should I Hire An Attorney After A Car Accident?<\/h3>\n

      You are not required to\u00a0hire an attorney after a car accident, but if you want to protect your rights, shield yourself from liability, or win as much compensation as possible from the other driver, an attorney can help.<\/span><\/p>\n

      At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we have helped many of our clients win settlements after their car crashes. We can put our knowledge and resources to work for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      \"Law\"Law\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>

      How Long Does It Take To Receive An Offer Of Compensation After A Car Accident In Florida?<\/h2>\n

      There are two important deadlines associated with a car accident claim filed\u00a0in Florida. After you submit your car accident claim, the insurance company has 14 days to respond to your claim and 90 days to either pay your claim in full, pay your claim in part, or deny your claim under Florida law.<\/span><\/p>\n

      The\u00a0statute of limitations\u00a0for bringing a personal injury or property damage complaint is generally four years from the date of the accident (<\/span>Florida Statute \u00a7 95.11<\/span>). It can be helpful to file your claim quickly, but you may want to take care of a few things before you do so:<\/span><\/p>\n