8 THINGS TO DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT IN SANFORD, FL

8 Things to do after a car accident in Sanford, FL

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2022 there were 5,930,496, which comes out to about 16,247 per day. Sanford, FL is the seat of Seminole County, FL, which reported 6,254 crashes in 2023. About half of those crashes involved injuries. Read on for the 8 things you should do after a car accident in Sanford or anywhere in Florida.

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1. STAY AT THE SCENE:  You should never leave the scene of an accident until instructed. Criminal penalties may occur if you leave the scene of an accident before instructed to by the police. 
   
   
2. CALL THE POLICE:  Whether it's a minor fender bender or a head on collision call the police. When the police arrive, follow their instructions, and ask for an accident report. Be sure to write down the name and badge number of the officers. Even in a small accident, your insurance company may try to deny your claim if you don't have a police report.
   
   Note:  Keep in mind that you or other passengers could be in shock. Injuries may not be visible or felt in the moment but can develop after some time. It's important to have the accident documented and the accident report can further your claim. 
   
   
3. OBTAIN PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM THE OTHER PARTY:  It's important to take down the other party's information. This should be included in the police report, but the officers sometimes make mistakes. Take down the following: 
   • Name;
   • Address;
   • Drivers License Number;
   • Telephone Number;
   • Insurance Company;
   • Insurance Policy Number; and 
   • Write down the name and information of the owner of the vehicle. (Sometimes the driver is not the owner.) 
     
     
4. WITNESSES:  Look to see if there were any witnesses to the accident. Oftentimes, other cars may stop if they witness an accident and attempt to assist. Take down the names and phone numbers of any witnesses to the accident.  
   
   
5. PHOTOS/VIDEOS:  Take as many clear photos/videos of the scene as possible. Take photos/videos of the all parts of the vehicles,  not just where there is visible damage. Take photos/videos of the road and the conditions of the road. Photograph/video any stop signs or stop lights that are in the vicinity. Try to photograph/videos any injuries you sustained. If you have a dash cam or the other driver has a dash cam, take note and/or save the footage. 
   
   Note:  Depending on where the accident took place, there may be a nearby security camera that captured the accident. If so, let your attorney know immediately, so the law firm can obtain the footage before expiration.
   
   
6. GO TO THE HOSPITAL:  If you have any injuries or discomfort go to the hospital. If in the event you do not have any injuries noticeable at the scene of the accident, that's ok too.
   
   Sometimes, injuries can develop over a day or a week. It's imperative that you document this as soon as the injury presents itself (even if it's what you consider minor).
   
   Go to your doctor, an urgent care, or an emergency room to be evaluated. If you're worried about the cost of seeing a medical professional and unsure of what your co-pay might be, give us a call. We read legal jargon all day long! We can help you make sense of it.
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7. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY:  You should notify your insurance company within 24 hours of an accident. Your insurance policy may have a limited amount of time for you to inform them of the accident. Unsure how to contact them, we can help you through this too.
   
   
8. CALL US AT (407) 308-0327:  We're here to help you through this moment in your life. 

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Sanford, FL or anywhere in Seminole County call Andrew Graves, Personal Injury Attorney, or fill out our consultation form and we’ll call you. The consultation is free and we don’t get paid until you do!