Yes. You should never leave the scene of an accident or you risk criminal charges for a hit-and-run. Leaving the scene of an accident can result in fines and possible jail time.

Once you have stopped, all drivers involved in the accident should exchange names, addresses, telephone numbers, driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, and insurance information.

Your health and safety, as well as that of the other people involved in the accident, should be the top priority following an accident. If anyone is injured in an automobile accident, you or they should seek medical attention as soon as is possible. Oftentimes, a person injured in automobile accident may not feel any pain until the next day due to adrenaline and other factors. Although it may difficult to diagnose these injuries very soon after an accident, this is even more reason to see a medical professional to make sure you are ok. In fact, Florida law requires that the injured victim of an automobile accident seek medical attention within fourteen days of the date of the accident or else he or she may lose important insurance benefits and rights.

Yes, and in some cases, it is even required. However, it is always a good idea to call the police following any auto accident.  The investigating officers who show up to the scene will gather information about the accident, including the contact information and insurance information for the parties involved. If the other party suggests not calling the police, you should be suspicious. The other party could be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, may not have auto insurance, or may be driving on a suspended license.

A police report will ensure that you have the other party’s information should you need to make a claim for the damages to your car or any injuries you have suffered. It is not uncommon for an at-fault driver to promise that he or she will pay for your damages personally, only to disappear and never contact you again.

Make sure to call the police so this does not happen to you.

Yes. Many insurance companies require that they be notified in a timely fashion following an auto accident. This will allow your insurance company to begin investigating the accident.

You will need to provide your insurance company with a brief description of the accident, the information for all involved parties, and the crash report number.

No, and you should not give them a statement. You should always speak to an attorney before giving a statement to anyone, especially the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

The other driver’s insurance company is not entitled to a statement from you, despite what they might tell you. Providing a statement to their insurance company may irreparably damage your case.

Make sure to keep all relevant information. This includes medical bills, medical records, photographs, repair estimates, and any evidence of lost wages. These records are evidence of damages you may have suffered due to the auto accident and will help you in the event that you decide to pursue compensation.

If you would like to know the damages for which you may seek compensation or be informed about your rights, you should make sure to contact an attorney.

The at-fault driver’s insurance company, your insurance company, or both, may offer you a sum of money to settle your case directly following an auto accident. Generally, you should be aware that you will probably be signing away your rights to receive future compensation for the accident.

Before you accept any kind of settlement offer, you should be sure that you know the rights you are signing away. Accepting a settlement will most likely preclude any future recovery, which is dangerous as you may not yet know the full extent of your injuries.

You should contact an attorney to discuss the settlement offer before accepting it.

Once the police have finished their investigation, you should call an attorney as soon as possible from the scene of the accident. An attorney can make sure that your needs are addressed, and your questions are answered.

At Mickey Keenan, PA we take these calls at no charge to you and also offer free consultations to accident victims.

Victims of auto accidents who maintain a Florida auto insurance policy, or live with a resident relative who does, are subject to Florida’s “No Fault” law. This means that you are likely entitled to PIP (Personal Injury Protection) benefits under that policy.

An experienced attorney can advise you about what kind of coverages you may be entitled and can help you navigate making sure you get that coverage. In the event that you are qualified for PIP coverage, your insurance company (or the insurance company of a resident relative) will pay a portion of your medical bills if the following conditions are met:

1. You must seek medical treatment within fourteen days.
2. If a doctor is of the opinion that you are not suffering from an “Emergency Medical Condition,” PIP will pay 80% of your medical bills up to $2,500
3. If a doctor is of the opinion that you are suffering from an “Emergency Medical Condition,” PIP will pay 80% of your medical bills up to $10,000

The remainder of your medical bills are your responsibility, and you have the right to make a claim for these “out-of-pocket” expenses from the at-fault driver, your uninsured/underinsured auto insurance carrier, and potentially health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid.

The damages that result from an auto accident vary from case to case, depending on many factors including the extent of the damages to the vehicles involved, the severity of the collision, and the injuries sustained. In general, victims of auto accidents in Florida can make claims for:

1. Pain, injury, disfigurement, disability, and loss of enjoyment of life, past or future.
2. Medical expenses, past or future, for the claimant or for minors injured in an accident.
3. Lost wages and loss of earning capacity.
4. Loss of companionship and services to a spouse of the injured, past or future.
5. Damages for the parent caring for an injured child, and the resulting loss of services, earnings, and earnings ability, past, present and future, until the child reaches legal age.
6. Loss of a child’s love, companionship, affection, social activities, and solace due to a significant injury resulting in permanent disability, including future loss until the child reaches legal age.
7. Loss to an unmarried dependent of their parent’s comfort, services, companionship, and society in the past or future due to a significant injury to the parent.
8. Property damage to the vehicle and other personal property including repair, towing, storage, rental car, and/or loss of use.

Victims of auto accidents often find their attorney through a referral from a family member or friend who had a good experience with a particular personal injury attorney. It is important that you find an attorney who you can trust to handle your claim effectively and tailor the handling of the case to your particular needs.

It is important that your attorney is honest, professional, experienced, and knowledgeable. Additionally, you may be able to call your state’s bar association to find out whether a particular attorney is in good standing and whether he or she has ever had any ethical complaints lodged against them.