15 May

Help! I Just Got In A Car Accident – What Do I Do Now? (A Comprehensive Checklist!)

Florida Law Group Car Accidents, Personal Injury

Oh no – we’re so sorry you got in a car accident! It’s no one’s idea of a good day.

At best, it’s a disruption to your busy schedule; at worst, it can be a life-changing experience, if you sustain permanent injuries (which we hope you did not!).

Maybe you’ve never been in a car accident before, especially if you are a young driver (or maybe you just had the fortune of never being hit or hitting someone else!), and you have no idea what you are supposed to do.

“What’s the procedure?” – Dwight Schrute

First of all, stay calm! Your safety and health are the most important things. Don’t worry about how much this will cost, whether you will get a ticket, what will happen to your insurance, or how you will get to your other destinations today and this week. There will be plenty of time to sort through that later. Right now, you just need to make sure you are okay!

But there are many things you can do now that will help you later, and certain procedures (as Dwight said!) are supposed to be followed!

Here’s what you should do if you just got in a car accident and have found a safe place to pull over:

At The Scene:

Call The Police

Always, always call the police! You can call 911 and tell them to send the police, or you can look up the local police’s number depending on the city and state you are in (but it is probably simplest and fastest to just call 911 and tell them you were in a car accident). You can also request medical assistance if you, your passengers, or the people in the other car are injured.

Maybe you’re afraid to call the police, or you think the car accident is minor enough that you don’t need it. Maybe the other person is asking you not to call the police because they don’t want the accident on their record, and they say they will pay you cash or have their insurance work it out.

DON’T CAVE! DO CALL THE POLICE!

You do not have to be mean about it in the slightest, and you may feel bad or feel scared yourself, but calling the police is always the right answer because they will fill out an accident report! Having an official record of the car accident can protect you from the other person suing you later, or assist you in your own lawsuit or insurance claim.

Take Pictures And Videos

If you are not extremely injured, and you are able to safely do so, take pictures and videos of the wreckage. Capture multiple angles of both cars (inside your own car, as well) and the accident surroundings. Pictures and videos can help the police and the insurance company (or you, later on) in determining what happened and how bad the damage was.

If you are on a highway, or a busy road, make sure that you are being aware of your own surroundings as you do this – you don’t want to get hit by a car because you are not paying attention!

Exchange Information With The Other Driver

Get the other driver’s contact information – full name, phone number, email address, license plate number, insurance company, and policy number. Give them yours as well.

If they are not willing to give you this information for whatever reason, the police will and it can be obtained in the report later on, but generally, this is considered a reasonable exchange that everyone knows they need to do. If they aren’t cooperating, you can get a picture of their license plate at the very least.

Get Contact Information From Any Willing Witnesses

Obviously, this is not always possible – most people who see a crash just keep driving. However, if there are any witnesses who saw the crash occur who have stopped to make sure you both are okay, or who are pedestrians who are standing by, ask them for their name and phone number/email address just in case you need anyone to talk about what happened later.

Again, you cannot force people to give you this information; the police may get witness statements as part of their report, though. If people are willing, this can only help you down the road.

Take Care Of Your Vehicle

If you just got in a car accident but your vehicle is drivable, you can leave the scene in it to your next destination, though you will want to get any damage taken care of (or at least get an estimate from a collision repair shop) within the next few days or weeks. Your insurance company may be able to recommend a collision repair shop that takes your insurance, or you can find one online with a quick Google search and compare rates (this is best not done at the scene).

If your vehicle is not drivable, you will need to get it towed to a repair shop. If you have roadside assistance included in your insurance policy, this may be covered; call your insurance company to see if it is, or if there is a tow company they recommend. You can call an Uber/Lyft or a taxi, if no family members or friends are available, to take you to your next destination.

Do Not Give The Insurance Company Too Much Information; Don’t Say The Accident Was Your Fault, Even If You Think It Was.

The insurance company is not your friend. They may act like they care, but they often use conversations with drivers who are still in shock and disconcerted after a crash against them later in order to devalue their insurance payout.

So keep the phone call with the insurance company short, and be careful what you say!

You can let them know you just got in a car accident, and you can share the facts with them – such as where the accident occurred, that you’ve spoken to the police, and that you need a tow or auto repair company – but that’s really all you need to share! Politely say that you need to go, and that if they need more information they can call you the next day.

Do not tell them that you feel fine, that you didn’t get hurt, or in any way say that the accident was your fault. They can use these statements against you later, even if you didn’t mean them the way they sounded or if you have injuries that you aren’t aware of that present themselves later. If they ask you how you feel, or if the other driver is okay, you can just say “I’m not sure at this time.”

If the other driver’s insurance compay calls you, politely decline to speak with them (you have no legal obligation to do so, and they are definitely looking to catch you admitting fault or downplaying your injuries!).

Later That Day Or The Next Day:

Visit An Urgent Care, ER, Or Primary Care Physician

Even if you don’t think that you are hurt, again, some injuries may not show up right away because of all of the adrenaline you are feeling right after the car accident (for example, whiplash, or disc issues, or even internal bleeding may take hours or days to present).

You need to make sure that you are seen by a medical professional as soon as possible to address any hidden injuries after a car accident, but also to get documentation (that can help with your insurance claim later).

That day is preferred, but obviously sometimes you are not able to adjust your schedule or get an appointment, so the next day is okay – but don’t wait several days or weeks to get a full examination!

If you do, not only do you run the risk of a health problem developing, but you also run the risk of the insurance company using that gap to suggest that it may not have been the car accident that caused your injuries.

Call A Car Accident Attorney!

Yes, you should do this! Call a lawyer! It’s free, don’t worry – you won’t have to pay them to speak to them and discuss your options, and in most cases you don’t have to pay them anything until they get you a settlement.

You shouldn’t have to pay when the accident wasn’t your fault or if you sustained injuries. A lawyer can help you get the money you deserve from the insurance company – in some cases, thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars!

The Florida Law Group has recovered over $1 billion for our clients. Our talented team is standing by ready to help you if you just got in a car accident! Call us right now to talk about what you should do next!