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I Witnessed A Car Accident. What Do I Do?

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If you notice an accident in Florida, contact the cops or the Florida Highway Patrol so they can submit a report to the proper authorities. There are other factors to keep in mind as well. Let’s read for a while!

If you see a car accident in Florida, contact the police or the Florida Highway Patrol so that they can gather the necessary information to submit an accident report to the relevant authorities. 

You should also get as much information as possible on both drivers involved in the crash, including their phone numbers and email addresses. If it is possible to speak with the other motorist, their contact information may be collected. Do not apologize or discuss the facts of the crash with the other driver.

When You Witness A Car Crash, Here’s What To Do.

Make careful to record the accident before moving forward with a lawsuit from a reputed Law Firm. Take a picture of the other driver’s license plate. Damage to cars and injuries should be documented. Avoid blaming others for the accident and removing them from the scene. 

Instead, use the following advice:

  • Finding The Other Driver’s License Plate.

Witnessing a Florida vehicle accident necessitates a thorough investigation of the other motorist. Car accident victims need it because the police might issue citations to those responsible for the collision. To assist you in identifying the other driver, here are a few pointers:

Even if you don’t know who the other motorist is, you should take down their name and the color of their car. It’s also against Senate Bill 76 to use a mobile phone while driving. You should also take down the license plate number of the other vehicle and any other identifying characteristics, such as bumper stickers. Witnesses may be able to provide you with information about the other driver if you cannot identify them.

  • Gathering The Information Of Witnesses. 

Some passers-by will stop and provide a hand to those in need. Other witnesses may be there, but they won’t be able to provide evidence. It’s critical to record the scene of an accident with photos and videos if you’ve been witness to one. Courts will be able to use these images and videos to corroborate one another’s stories. A fire may be avoided if the scenario is documented with photos or recordings.

It’s critical to identify the other driver if there are any eyewitnesses to an automobile collision in Florida. For an accident to be legal in Florida, all persons involved must be present. A hit-and-run charge will be filed against you if you fail to stop. The consequences for leaving the scene of an accident are less severe than those for remaining. If, after witnessing an accident, you fail to identify the other motorist, you might be prosecuted with DUI manslaughter.

  • Keeping A Record Of The Incident

It is critical to keep a detailed record of each Florida vehicle accident. The police records, your talks with the cops, and any damage to your vehicle should be documented. You may also snap images of the damage to your car and any road debris that comes into contact. The accident records of both drivers would be helpful. Even better if you can get a picture of the other driver’s vehicle!

Take photographs of the collision site and the other cars that were involved. It’s critical to document the whole area of the collision, down to the street signs and speed restrictions. Both vehicles should be noted for any damage they sustained. Also, take photos of the accident area to assist authorities in identifying whether someone else’s irresponsibility caused the accident. To establish negligence in court, you’ll need evidence like this.

  • Always Record Accident Situations.

If the collision costs more than $500, the police will request a written report. To receive the insurance information you need in a collision with another car, utilize this. You should still submit a written report even if the accident were not your fault. Ten days are allotted for submitting a written statement. It is critical to record the event to ensure that your insurance provider understands what occurred and what was done.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will get a final police report after the incident. The police report may take a week or two to be posted. To ensure that you get your insurance claim, you need to record the vehicle accident regardless of how long ago it occurred. If you’re injured, don’t forget to keep a record of it for future reference.

  • Avoiding Blaming The Other Party

Passengers who saw the crash should avoid admitting blame if they were in the vehicle. There is a chance that your compensation claim may be denied, and you may also face increased insurance rates and traffic infractions. 

You should also refrain from apologizing to the other person unless required. In the end, speaking with an attorney is the best course of action. 

Even if you were not at blame for the accident, it might be challenging to resist admitting responsibility.

  • First, collect all of the witnesses’ contact information and testimonies so that you may begin the process of filing a claim. The site and any cars involved should be documented as well as you can. 
  • Make a note of where any trash has been dumped. Make sure to chronicle the incident by taking photographs or videos. 
  • When seeking to establish liability, this material may be helpful. In cases when the other motorist is at fault, this is highly critical.

It is critical to avoid doing so, as tempting as it may be to blame yourself for a vehicle accident. As much as you may want to sympathize with the other motorist, you don’t want to jeopardize your legal defense. As long as you don’t confess any wrongdoing, it’s wiser not to concede liability. Until the authorities have talked with the individual who did not cause the accident, the person should keep quiet—attending a vehicle accident in Florida? Avoid admitting blame as a witness.

If you see an automobile accident, call the other motorist’s insurance company and report it. You must provide the insurance company with information about the accident, including where and when it happened. If you don’t have this information, it might affect your compensation. Your insurance provider is less likely to reimburse you if you accept guilt. Your full or partial payment claim may be forfeited if the other driver refuses to acknowledge responsibility.

  • Avoiding Moving Those Involved In A Car Accident

Unless it is necessary, do not transfer anybody who has been injured in a vehicle accident in Florida. Even if they don’t think it’s safe, drivers in Florida are required by law to get out of the line of oncoming traffic following a collision. Keep your car’s warning lights flashing and wait for help to come. An investigation is underway, and all those involved will be questioned by law enforcement.

  • Getting Medical Attention

In the aftermath of an automobile accident, you may be unsure of what to do next. Since Florida law forces all accident victims to seek medical care within 14 days, this is a good thing. You can still get medical attention even if you don’t feel hurt; this does not preclude you from doing so. Injuries don’t often show up right away, so you may not even be aware that you’ve been injured.

If you haven’t been hurt, Florida law generally does not force you to assist. You should not assist an accident victim without a valid license, although the “Good Samaritan” legislation protects people who help the wounded. If you do this, you run the danger of creating a second patient and jeopardizing your safety. As a result, seeking medical attention is a wise decision.

You can help by offering to help if you are able. Anyone who is harmed should be asked whether they need an ambulance. As long as you don’t attempt to transfer someone, you won’t injure them anymore. By relocating the automobiles to the side of the road, you may also assist. Your mobile phone may also come in handy for someone in need. First Choice Law is here for you after you’ve helped.

A person who has been hurt in a vehicle accident might aid others by obtaining information. While law enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol will receive the essential data, it’s a good idea to gather your own. Get the other driver’s contact information by having a conversation with them. The contact information of eyewitnesses should be obtained as well. Dealing with insurance providers necessitates having this information readily hand. The testimony of a witness may be significant in a court of law.

Bottom-line

Contact Ovadia Law Group, PA, if you’ve been injured in a vehicle accident. They provide specialized legal advice and justice to those injured in vehicle accidents and are committed to obtaining the best possible compensation for their situations. While several Florida locations, like Fort Myers, Boca Ratan, and Miami, serve as the company’s regional hubs.

If you’ve been in a vehicle accident, you need to quickly get in touch with a lawyer. By contacting Ovadia Law Group, you may do so. Consultations are provided at no cost. You’ll learn what you need to do right now to safeguard your legal rights from being violated by these lawyers. Your insurance claim is one of the services they may provide. You will be able to get the compensation you are entitled to.

Clients may rest easy knowing that they will never be charged a fee in advance since they only pay their attorneys if they win their case. Contact Ovadia Law Group at 1-800-674-9396 for more information.

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