After a car accident in Gainesville, you should immediately see to your health and safety and that of others involved in the crash. Call for emergency medical services and report the accident to the police. If you can, step to the side of the road so that vehicles don’t smash into you from behind and cause additional harm.
These are just the first steps to take after a car crash. A Gainesville car accident lawyer can guide you through further actions that may help you now and in the future as you untangle questions of negligence and liability for your losses.
Keep Everyone Safe After a Car Crash
The shock and surge of adrenaline you experience when you’re involved in a car accident can sometimes mask the symptoms of your injuries, leaving you unaware that you’re hurt. If there are passengers in your car, you may not recognize the scope of their injuries. To be safe, call the Gainesville Police Department and emergency medical services to the crash site and follow their directions.
Collect Information from Everyone Involved in the Accident
If possible, it would be helpful for your case if you or one of your passengers did the following while everyone involved in the crash is still on site:
- Take pictures of the damage to all involved vehicles and the general crash site.
- Exchange insurance and contact information with other drivers and passengers. Take pictures of insurance cards and driver’s licenses.
- Ask eyewitnesses for their contact information. Your lawyer can interview them later.
Arrange a Tow for Your Vehicle and Repair Estimates
Towing may be included in your insurance coverage. If not, you may have to pay someone to tow your car to a body shop or your home—wherever you feel is most appropriate.
When you speak with your insurer, they will inform you of the process for getting an estimate for the repair or replacement of your car.
Document Your Medical Journey After a Car Crash in Gainesville
When someone else’s negligence in Florida causes an accident, you may have the right to pursue a compensation claim, even though ours is a no-fault state. If your injuries are severe and your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance can’t cover all of your costs, you may be able to recover your losses through legal action. Injuries that may qualify as severe include:
- Permanent disfigurement
- Disability
- Permanent injury
- Loss of bodily function
- Loss of a loved one
If you were not taken directly to a hospital or clinic after your crash, get checked by a healthcare professional as soon as possible and do the following:
- Take pictures of your injuries starting the day of the accident and continue to do so throughout your recovery.
- Follow your medical team’s recommendations, and do not skip any appointments.
- Ask for copies of your medical records after each visit and check them for accuracy.
- Record your recollections of the accident and keep notes about your recovery.
Protect Your Rights and Your Future
Connect with a personal injury law firm after a medical professional has seen you. We offer free case consultations and can help you determine how to get compensation for your losses. It may be that using your PIP and property damage liability (PDL) insurance will be the appropriate and only route open to you.
Before accepting a settlement from your insurers, have all of the documentation you’ve collected, such as the police report, medical records, income loss, and car repair or replacement costs, so that you can reference the losses you’ve suffered. If the settlement offer does not cover your damages, our lawyers can negotiate for a higher settlement.
Don’t Discuss the Car Crash with Others
It’s hard to say where a personal injury case might end up. It could be simple enough—you file a PIP claim, and your insurer pays your damages. In other cases, other parties may claim you caused the accident to get out of paying you.
This is why it is integral that you don’t discuss fault with anyone at the scene and don’t apologize for anything. When the police arrive, give a simple and accurate statement, but don’t claim fault for the crash.
Don’t discuss the accident with friends or relatives, and do not talk about it online. You should talk to your insurance company, but don’t speak with the other drivers’ insurance companies until you are physically and mentally prepared. And don’t give a recorded statement if an insurance adjuster asks.
Meeting the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Should you wish to pursue a compensation judgment from the courts, Florida gives you two years from the date of the accident to begin legal action. There are exceptions to this deadline, but if you miss it, you may not be allowed to file your lawsuit and could miss the opportunity to recover the compensation you deserve.
Recovering Compensation if You are Partially at Fault for the Car Accident
Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule when deciding who may recover compensation for losses after a car crash. If you are found to be 51% at fault or more, you will not be allowed to seek compensation for your losses.
Drivers who are 50% or less at fault may still recover compensation. However, their percentage of fault will reduce their settlement or award. For instance, if you are found to be 10% at fault for the crash, you may recover 90% of your final damage award.
Talk with Our Gainesville Car Crash Legal Team Today
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our car accident attorneys have extensive knowledge of Florida’s personal injury laws. Call our team today. We will fight for your rights and the justice you deserve. Your well-being is our top priority.
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