If you have been involved in a minor accident, you might not think a lawyer needs to be involved. But even small collisions, sometimes referred to as fender benders, can result in injuries and large expenses. Before dismissing your accident as a simple inconvenience, make your health and your personal property a priority and discuss the accident with a Sarasota personal injury attorney for free. Safety Is the First Priority When cars collide, the safety of all drivers involved is the first priority. Call 9-1-1 and listen to their instructions. Provided it is possible to so without injury, move your car off the road to avoid more accidents. You do not want to be in the flow of traffic when your car is stopped. Move to somewhere safe and use your hazard lights to indicate there is an issue. Even if you do not notice physical injury to yourself and others in the car, seek a professional opinion once it is possible. Assess your health with a doctor to be sure there were no injuries that were not recognized following the collision. Details Need to Be Documented When something stressful occurs, such as a car accident, people often believe there is no way they could possibly forget the details of that day. But in reality, people do. Protect yourself and write down the details of what happened so you have the needed information when you talk to your lawyer. The type of details you should collect include the following:
- Street name and where the cars were on the street.
- Month, day, and time the accident occurred.
- What the weather was, from an ideal sunny day to a day of gusts and rain.
- Any other factors that could have contributed to the accident.
- Take photos and videos, including location and damage to vehicles.
- The name of other drivers who were impacted.
- Insurance company information, including contact phone numbers.
- Make, model, and year of each car, motorcycle, or truck.
- The license plate numbers of the cars involved in the collision.