How you respond after a serious auto accident could influence your future case against a negligent driver. Our lawyers can ensure you take all the necessary steps toward obtaining compensation after a collision.

Once you exit the car and reach safety, call local law enforcement to ensure a crash report is filed for the accident. Ask the negligent driver for their information, take as many pictures as you can with your phone, and refrain from apologizing or admitting any negligence on your part. All of this can help our lawyers file your case before the statute of limitations expires and recover the maximum compensation on your behalf.

Call Graves Injury Law Firm at (305) 614-2767 for a free case assessment from our car accident lawyers.

What is the Right Response to a Car Accident in Coral Gables?

The right response to a car accident is to remain as calm as possible, document the scene as thoroughly as you can, get assessed for injury, and pursue compensation for any damages you suffered.

Call 911

Right after a collision, call 911. Reporting car accidents that end in injury, death, or significant property damage is important. The other driver might ask you not to call the police; you should not listen to them and should always call 911, even if the other driver threatens to flee the scene.

Remain at the scene until officers arrive, unless you are severely injured and must go directly to the hospital. Officers may take several days to furnish the police report, at which point we can help you obtain the report and analyze it for useful or inaccurate information.

Get the Negligent Driver’s Information

Always ask for the negligent driver’s name and insurance information. You are legally entitled to know this information after an accident. If the driver refuses to give you their name and insurance details, tell the police, and they can take down all of their information in the police report.

Take Pictures

Also, take pictures in the aftermath of a crash. Photograph the final position of each involved vehicle, as well as any broken car parts, dents, scratches, or shattered glass. Take more pictures than you think you will need, and give them all to our car accident lawyers to review. Avoid deleting any pictures until our lawyers analyze them, even if they seem blurry or irrelevant.

Do Not Apologize

Be careful about apologizing after an accident, even if you are just being polite. Being partially at fault for your injuries limits your recovery in Florida because of its modified comparative fault rule. Do not say you are sorry to the other driver or accept fault when discussing the accident with the police. Do not apologize or accept fault when communicating with insurance companies, either.

Prioritize Your Injuries

You may not know the full extent of your injuries until you get medical treatment for them. Injured victims should go straight to the hospital from a crash site. Do not neglect your physical recovery in the weeks and months that follow, as that could lead to insufficient medical records that compromise your case.

Confirm Your Case

You need to confirm whether you have a compensation claim after an accident. Most likely, if another driver was negligent and injured you, their insurance is liable for your damages. Even relatively minor injuries may warrant a lawsuit for enough compensation, so do not assume you have no case if your injuries are not severe or permanently disabling.

Track Your Damages

Tracking car accident damages is the only way to calculate and prove them. We can track your losses using hospital bills, pre-injury income statements, invoices, expert witness testimony, and your personal testimony. Track your non-economic damages carefully by documenting how an accident has affected your quality of life in a journal or with a mental health professional whose testimony can support your case.

File Your Claim on Time

You only have so long to file a lawsuit after a car accident. The statute of limitations is 2 years, though there may be no need to wait that long, depending on how much preparation your case requires. By being proactive and consulting our attorneys immediately after your collision, you may improve your chances of filing a timely claim and not missing the statute of limitations.

Car Accident FAQs Answered

What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents in Coral Gables?

Rear-end, head-on, roll-over, sideswipe, and T-bone accidents are some of the most common types of collisions that often end in injury.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Most car accidents are caused by driver error, such as speeding, failing to check blind spots before changing lanes, or following another car too closely. Drunk and drowsy driving are among the top causes of collisions.

What Are Typically the Most Concerning Car Accident Damages for Victims?

Victims may be most concerned with recovering medical bills after car accidents, as medical treatment may result in the greatest concrete expenses from a collision.

What Are the Hardest Car Accident Damages to Recover?

Non-economic damages may be the hardest to recover after a car accident because they are inherently subjective. While some level of pain and suffering is generally expected with any injury, we must demonstrate the extent of your pain and suffering to obtain greater damages.

What is the Difference Between Settlements and Trials for Car Accident Cases?

Settlements for car accidents are private and can be faster than trials. Both parties in a lawsuit must agree to and sign the settlement for the case to end. Trials end with jury verdicts, with jurors deciding the defendant’s liability and how much compensation the plaintiff deserves.

Reach Out for Help with Your Car Accident Case

Get your free case review from the Graves Injury Law Firm by calling our car accident lawyers at (305) 614-2767.