What to Do as a Passenger after a Car Crash in Florida

You are out for a drive with a friend or family member when suddenly, disaster strikes. Annually, there are an average of six million car crashes in the United States. While there is ample material available to help the drivers in these situations, what about the passengers? As the passenger in a crash, you also have the right to make a personal injury claim for any damages sustained from the accident. 

If you were a passenger of a vehicle involved in a car crash, you will need to seek the help of professionals to recover any damages owed to you. The experienced personal injury attorneys of the Baker Legal Team have the knowledge and experience to get you the compensation you deserve. Keep reading for further information on what you should do as a passenger after a car crash in Florida. 

Act at the Scene of a Car Crash

As a passenger of a car accident, you may not have been the one driving the vehicle, but you can certainly suffer damages from the crash. The most important thing to do at the scene of a car crash is to ensure your safety. You should check on others involved at the scene after calling the police and emergency services. You should ensure that law enforcement can complete a report and collect any evidence they may need. 

Collect Your Own Information

As a passenger involved in a car accident, it is crucial that you do not rely on others to get the information you need to make a personal injury claim. You should gather the information you will need like the insurance information, names, and contact information of both drivers. You should also ask for the printed driver exchange of information and consider paying $12 for the police report once it is posted 24 hours after the crash. It would help if you also tried to get the contact information of any witnesses who may have seen the crash, as you may be able to get a statement from them. You should also take your own photos of the crash site, property damage, and any injuries. 

Get Medical Attention as Soon as Possible

After being involved in a car crash, you should seek medical attention quickly. You should seek out medical care to evaluate the severity of your injuries and to ensure you have not suffered latent injuries like a traumatic brain injury or internal bleeding. Additionally, seeking out medical attention after the accident will ensure that your injuries have been documented and will prevent the insurance provider from denying your claim on the grounds that your injuries were not as severe as you claim or that they were not caused by the accident. 

Establish the Damages Sustained from the Crash

Different types of damages may be owed to you from a car crash. Economic damages are any damage like a medical bill or damage to personal property. An example is if you were a passenger in your own vehicle and the car was damaged in the crash. Non-economic damages can be described as pain and suffering; these may be more challenging to quantify. After assessing these damages, your attorney will have a good idea of how much you should be compensated.

How Can a Florida Personal Injury Legal Team Help You?

Being involved in a motor vehicle crash can be scary and leave you feeling overwhelmed. Just because you were not the driver or not in your own vehicle does not mean that you do not have a right to make a personal injury claim to recover compensation for your damages. All of the laws involved with making a personal injury claim in Florida can be confusing. Let the experienced team at the Baker Law Team help. Click here for a free case evaluation or call (561) 320-0000.