Auto Accidents

If you have been injured in an auto accident in Orlando, FL, it’s essential to follow a few basic steps in the direct aftermath of the accident. These steps will ensure your safety and improve your chances of pursuing a personal injury claim.

1. Stay at the Scene, Secure Your Physical Safety, and Call the Police/EMTs: If you have been injured in the accident, err on the side of safety and stay put. Florida laws require you to stay at the scene of an accident if possible if the accident caused any injuries or $500 or more in damage. If you or another driver or passenger is injured, remain in place while someone contacts the police/EMTs. Contrary to popular belief, calling 911 improves your chances of making a strong personal injury case. Always cooperate with first responders when they take accident reports.

In some cases, the police will either fail to arrive at the scene of an accident or fail to take a police report. If that is the case, you should file a police report detailing everything you can recall about the accident. This can be completed online and done immediately after the accident.

2. If Possible, Gather Information and Document the Scene: If you can safely get out of your vehicle and move around the accident scene, you should do independent fact-gathering and documentation for your case.

Essential pieces of information to obtain include:

• The time, date, and location of the accident, as well as any other important details (i.e., weather conditions)
• The name, contact information, and insurance information of the other party or parties in the accident
• The name and contact information of any witnesses, as well as a brief recording of their recollection of events (which can be taken via video or voice memo)
• If the accident was a hit-and-run by the other party, immediately write down everything you remember about the other car, the accident, and the driver—even small details, like dents or bumper stickers.

Important things to document (i.e., with your cell phone camera) include:

• The entirety of the accident scene
• Damage to both vehicles (including close-ups, ideally from different angles)
• Location of each vehicle after the accident
• License plate numbers
• Traffic pattern at the time of the crash
• Videos of the other person’s state if you suspect a DUI (i.e., getting evidence of slurred speech, etc.)

3. Get Medical Treatment as Soon as Possible: When it comes to auto accidents in Orlando, FL, it is essential both for your health and for your

personal injury case that you get medical attention and treatment immediately. Even if you do not believe you have been badly injured, you

should get checked out by a medical professional as soon as you can after the crash. In many cases, the adrenaline that floods the body and puts it into a state of shock right after a significant accident can mask symptoms of more extensive injuries. Getting medical treatment ensures that these injuries are spotted, even if they do not immediately feel as bad as they are. It also ensures that you are doing your due diligence and getting treatment as soon as possible so that no one can later claim that you weren’t injured or you worsened your injury by not getting medical attention.

Importantly, to receive compensation from your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) policy, Florida State Law requires you to report a medical injury within two weeks (14 days) of the accident. If you’ve gotten into an accident in Orlando, FL, the sooner you report the injury, the better it is for your health and your case. However, the deadline for PIP claims is two weeks.

It is also essential to know that this first medical visit and original diagnosis must be made by a medical doctor (MD), a doctor of osteopathy (DO), a dentist (DMD), or a chiropractor (DC); or treatment can be provided by a hospital or accredited medical facility.

Before or after completing these steps, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced, knowledgeable personal injury attorney specializing in auto accidents. In Orlando, Florida, the auto accident personal injury attorney to call is Attorney Michael Reese at Reese Legal. 

Call today for a free consultation on your personal injury case.