(GUIDE) What To Do After A Car Accident In Hollywood Florida

Despite its sunny disposition, Hollywood, Florida, has seen its fair share of car accidents every year. If you’re ever in the unfortunate situation of experiencing a car accident, knowing what to do after can help make the process bearable. This guide will provide information on how to handle and what to do after a car accident. From understanding your rights as a victim to getting medical attention, you must ensure that you’re properly taken care of in the aftermath of a car accident.

Furthermore, filing a car accident claim for the injuries suffered in the accident will help you pay for your medical bills and any lost wages when you were unable to work. You will also need to deal with insurance companies and seek legal representation after a car accident.

Injury victims often have to deal with a pile-up of medical bills, lost income, and a lifetime of trauma. Auto accidents are no joke, and some can even lead to fatalities. Thus, it is best to hire a personal injury lawyer to ensure that your rights are protected. At the Law Office of Jared Spingarn, Jared’s team of personal injury attorneys can help you navigate your legal rights. Get in touch with them for a free case evaluation as soon as possible.

1. Understand your rights.

The first thing you need to do after a car accident is to understand what your rights are so you can recover compensation.

Right to receive compensation for all damages caused by the accident

This includes medical treatment, other expenses related to the incident, lost income, emotional pain, and other similar losses.

Right to receive compensation for any property damage

This includes damage done to your car and personal belongings. In Hollywood, FL, property damage insurance is required for all motor vehicle owners to help them recover after a serious car crash.

Seek punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or when a driver has acted recklessly

Gross negligence is an inexcusable failure to exercise reasonable care. It often involves a conscious disregard for others’ safety and well-being, such as when a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. On the other hand, ordinary negligence involves an individual acting carelessly, such as running a stop sign and consequently causing injury in a car crash or property damage. It is important to be aware of this distinction if you have suffered injuries from a negligent act so that you can pursue compensation for any damages sustained.

What are some examples of a driver acting without regard for others’ safety?

Reckless driving puts the public in danger and puts car accident victims at risk for serious injury. Here are some situations wherein a driver might be found guilty of reckless driving:

• Speeding – This increases the risk of accidents and can cause serious injury or death if an accident does occur.
• Tailgating – Tailgating or following another vehicle too closely increases the risk of rear-end collisions, which can often be serious or even fatal.
• Running Red Lights and Stop Signs – This type of behavior often leads to accidents, as drivers may not see other vehicles that have the right of way.
• Making Improper Lane Changes – This can be dangerous as it can lead to sideswipe accidents or even head-on collisions.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI) – Drunk driving is perhaps the most dangerous form of reckless driving. This type of behavior significantly increases the risk of accidents and can often result in serious injury or death.
• Distracted Driving – This can include activities such as talking on the phone, texting, eating, or even talking to passengers.
• Drowsy Driving – Drowsy drivers are impaired by fatigue and cannot stay alert while behind the wheel.

How do you prove that the other driver’s actions were grossly negligent or reckless in court?

Car accident claims typically require definitive evidence, including police reports, medical bills, photographs of the accident scene, and damage to car features. Furthermore, testimony from eyewitnesses and expert testimony from medical professionals may be necessary to successfully demonstrate that the other driver’s behavior caused your car accident injuries. Therefore, it is important to gather all support materials to boost your claim against the liable party before entering the courtroom. Your legal team from Jared Spingarn’s law firm can help you collect enough evidence and represent you in a personal injury claim or in court.

What kind of damages can you expect to recover from the at-fault driver’s insurance company?

A successful personal injury claim can result in hefty compensatory damages paid by the auto insurance company of the at-fault driver to the injured person. The severity and extent of the auto accident victim’s injuries impact the number of damages that can be recovered and may include repayment for medical expenses, lost wages due to missed work, property damage, pain and suffering resulting from serious injuries, and more therapy or medications needed for long-term recovery. Having proof of the at-fault driver’s gross negligence and recklessness is the key to recovering the maximum amount of compensation allowed.

2. Check for injuries and seek medical attention if necessary.

In the event of a serious car accident, it is crucial to check for injuries and seek medical treatment if necessary. This is especially true with car crash cases in which physical trauma may be experienced by the injured auto accident victims. This includes minor bruises and scrapes to serious bodily harm such as broken bones, bleeding, or severe pain. In these scenarios, immediate medical attention is vital to prevent any long-term damage.

3. Call 911 to report the accident and request a police report.

Calling 911 is especially important if you need to check on the well-being of any other drivers or passengers at the accident scene. You need to make sure everyone gets help as soon as possible, especially if there are car victims with serious injuries.

This will also provide documentation of the incident and lay out all parties involved. The particulars of your circumstance will identify who might arrive at the scene, and their involvement can add valuable data for insurance companies to determine precisely who was responsible. These official reports, along with your medical records, will help in your financial recovery after the car accident.

4. Exchange contact information with other drivers involved, as well as any witnesses.

Make sure to take down detailed notes about car make and model, license plate number, and the insurance company for all cars involved in the car accident. Witness statements are also invaluable in assessing the car accident, so having it can help when needed. Taking note of these details can expedite car accident resolution time.

5. Take photos of the accident and the damage to the cars.

It is important to take photos of the vehicles involved and the damage caused as soon as possible. This is especially helpful in rear-end collisions, where analyzing car positions can help establish who was at fault.

Good photos allow forensic experts to get an accurate idea of car speeds or if a car drove off from the scene halfway. Additionally, assessing car damage helps paint a picture of how traumatic an experience this accident may have been for the drivers involved. Hence, take photos of car accidents and their damage safely, carefully, and quickly.

6. Collect evidence and keep detailed records about the accident.

Documentation of the car accident and its effects can be a helpful tool for car accident compensation claims and/or cases potentially dealing with permanent disabilities from the car crash. Gather as much information as possible about the reasons behind the car accident to help accident reconstruction experts determine who is at fault.

Additionally, any medical information related to injuries you may have suffered from the car crash should be recorded and kept track of. Gathering this evidence ahead of time will provide strong legal footing for a car accident claim.

7. Notify your insurance company of the accident and provide them with any necessary information.

When notifying your insurance company, make sure to provide them with all the necessary information, such as insurance coverage details, date and time of the accident, location, description of the damage suffered, and any other relevant information they may require.

By providing them with all the required data, you may be able to receive the maximum compensation available under your insurance coverage. But if you fail to notify your insurer at the right time or miss out on essential information requested by insurance field agents during the assessment process, which may happen during an insurance claim settlement, you may find yourself denied insurance compensation.

8. Contact a car accident lawyer from the law firm of Jared Spingarn, P.A., for additional legal support during this process.

As an auto accident victim, legal support can be essential to receiving the compensation you deserve from the at-fault driver. Finding a Hollywood, FL, car accident lawyer with experience in car accident cases and who is fully knowledgeable of Florida law can provide additional knowledge and insight throughout this difficult process.

It would be a great help to have someone assist you in navigating the legalities of car accidents. Whether you are in Broward County, in a South Florida auto accident, or in Hollywood, FL, Jared’s team of personal injury attorneys is prepared to litigate on your behalf in car accident settlements, and can provide you with representation in court should it come to that.

Conclusion

Generally, people involved in car accidents face minor injuries. However, some injured victims end up in an emergency room with broken bones, while some incur potentially permanent disabilities. Knowing what to do after a car accident in Hollywood, Florida, will help you be in the best possible position to recover from your physical and financial losses as quickly and seamlessly as possible.

If you have any questions or need more help, don’t hesitate to contact Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney. Jared’s team of car accident attorneys is here for you and ready to assist you with your car accident claim. They offer a free consultation to give you an overview of how they will handle your car accident lawsuit.

If you’re involved in a car accident in Florida, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney, at 1-954-781-2316 for a Free Case Review or drop a message on their Contact Us page.