Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
If you are visiting Florida and find yourself involved in a Miami traffic accident, it can be terribly frightening. You may not be familiar with local laws, you may not know anyone in town, and you may be far from home. A Miami truck accident can be frightening for anyone, but can be more so if you are unfamiliar ground. Here is what to do if the worst happens:
1) Stay calm and get help for anyone who needs it. If anyone is injured in the accident, get them help right away. If someone is seriously injured, do not try to move them. Contact 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions until emergency help arrives. In the meantime, stay calm and avoid making any statements that imply that you accept blame for the accident. When speaking with the other driver, stick to the facts and let the authorities assign fault.
2) Get information from the driver and from any witnesses. Get as much information as you can, including names and contact information.
3) Evaluate the seriousness of the accident. If the accident is serious, wait until help arrives. If the accident is minor and no one is injured, Florida law requires you to remove your vehicle to the side of the road so as not to obstruct traffic.
4) Gather information and evidence. Take photos of the accident scene if you can and take down any pertinent information – such as the location time, date, and other details – as soon as you can, before you forget. This information may be important if you decide to take legal action after the collision.
5) Report the accident. If there are injuries or serious property damage or you believe that the other driver was driving under the influence, contact the police to file a report. In a more minor accident, you may simply choose to inform your insurance carrier.
6) Contact a Miami personal injury attorney. If you have sustained injuries in a Miami truck accident, you will want to contact a Miami personal injury attorney. The liability issues surrounding commercial truck accidents are complex, especially if you are out of state. An experienced attorney can help you protect your rights and can ensure that you don’t have to pay for too many of your injury costs out of pocket. It can also be very important to have someone familiar with Miami law on your side as you determine what to do after an accident. In many cases, a local attorney can even suggest where to go for medical help or car repairs as well, so it can be good to have someone with local expertise on your side.
7) Get a medical evaluation. Even if you show no symptoms after your accident, it can be important to get evaluated by a local clinic as soon as possible. Some serious injuries, including brain injuries, do not show symptoms right away bust can still prove fatal, and Miami brain injury patients who get help immediately have much better recovery rates than injury victims who wait.
If you have been injured in a Miami truck accident, contact the Flaxman Law Group to arrange a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your case.