No one plans to be in a car accident, and the trauma of even a minor accident can make it difficult to think and process what has happened and what you need to do. When you are in an accident in St. Petersburg, or anywhere in the state or even in the country, knowing what to do in the first few minutes, hours and days after the accident will be important.
Any auto accident attorney will tell you that failing to do the correct things can make or break your case. Your insurance company will typically provide a checklist online, which can be helpful to keep in your vehicle in case you are in an accident.
Immediately After the Accident
The first thing to do is check yourself and all passengers in your vehicle to make sure there are no injuries. If there are injuries, immediately call 911 and request an ambulance and police to the scene.
Verify all other drivers and passengers, as well as any bystanders or pedestrians involved in the accident, are safe and do not need emergency medical attention. If they do, call that in as well.
When there are damages to vehicles that are significant, report and request the St. Petersburg police to the scene. Be sure to allow the officer arriving at the scene to do his or her job, and provide all information requested. Ask the office for a card that indicates his or her badge number, name and contact details. Request a police report to be filed.
The next step, or one that can be done before the police arrive, is to get the other driver or drivers information and insurance details. Stick to getting the information, don’t talk about the accident, apologize, or make any statements that indicate you were at fault, but you can show concern and compassion towards others involved.
If witnesses were at the scene, get their information as well. Take pictures of the vehicles from different angles, but do not go into a lane of traffic. The pictures will be helpful to the auto accident attorney as well as to your insurance company. Take pictures of any obstructions or issues with the flow of traffic, including any construction in the area.
If there are minor to serious injuries or significant damage, or if there was fatality with the accident, contact an auto accident attorney as quickly as possible. This will allow the attorney to represent you in future communication regarding the accident.
When you need an auto accident attorney, the Bulluck Law Group is here to help.
