What to Do After a Car Accident in The Villages, FL

The dispatcher will send officers from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, state police, or other law enforcement agency. Police officers will take steps to secure the scene and keep everyone safe from other vehicles passing by. They will arrange for emergency medical attention if anyone suffered a serious injury. Officers will also conduct an initial investigation of the crash. They will take down everybody’s information, ask questions, and examine the crash site. Then they will complete a Florida Traffic Crash Report. You should always get a copy of your accident report. The information in it may help an experienced lawyer build a strong case for financial compensation.

Simply explain it is for insurance purposes. Ask for the driver’s name and contact information, as well as the name of their insurance company and the policy number. Share your information, as well. Try to keep the conversation calm and respectful. Don’t talk about the accident. Don’t get into argument over who was to blame. A lawyer can help you sort all that out later on. If there were witnesses, ask for their names and contact information, too.

This can help you document the accident and can be useful evidence when you seek financial compensation for your injuries. Get photos of the crash itself from all angles. Include close-up shots and pictures from farther away. Take photos of the wider accident scene – such as traffic signals, stop signs or speed limit signs, and landmarks. Get photos of any debris, construction, or skid marks in the road. Also write down your account of the car accident as soon as you get a moment. Write down everything you remember.

You may question whether it’s worth seeing a doctor because it doesn’t seem you are hurt. You should get medical attention anyway. A minor pain you are feeling could turn out to be something much more serious. And some injuries don’t have immediate symptoms – such as a concussion or internal bleeding.

When you get an exam, a doctor can diagnose your injuries and begin treatment. Go to the emergency room at UF Health The Villages Hospital, Select Specialty Hospital, UF Health The Villages Hospital Freestanding ER, or Premier Medical Associates Urgent Care, or see your own doctor. Your injuries will also be documented, which can help your lawyer move your claim for compensation forward.

If you don’t, it could put your ability to recover financial compensation. Let them know as soon as possible. But keep it simple. Remember that insurance companies aren’t on your side and are always looking for ways to pay you less. You may be contacted by an adjuster for the other driver’s insurance company. They may want to ask you some questions or give a recorded statement. But what they are really trying to do is trick you into saying something they can use against you. Be polite, but tell the other adjust that first, you would like to speak to your attorney.

Contact an experienced car accident lawyer in The Villages.

You may wonder if it’s even worth talking to a lawyer. It is worth it if:

• You want answers to your questions.
• You want to know how much you may be able to recover.
• You want to hear your legal options for recovering compensation.

A lawyer can review the details of your accident and let you know where you stand. There’s no cost and no obligation. You just get the information you need before deciding what to do next.

It’s important to get legal advice as soon as possible. State law gives you four years from the date of the accident to take legal action. That sounds like plenty of time. But lawyers can build stronger cases when they can get right to work. It’s best to gather evidence soon after the crash and talk to witnesses before they forget details.

Contact an experienced car accident lawyer in The Villages today.