Personal Injury Attorneys South Florida 20

What to do After a Motor Vehicle Accident – South Florida Accident Attorneys

Personal Injury Attorneys South Florida

If you want to live a long and healthy life, there are many steps you can take, one of which is to move to Monaco. The tiny principality nestled in along the French Riviera has the highest life expectancy in the world at 89.52 years. Here in the United States we can expect to live to 78.7 years of age, but of course it doesn’t really matter where you live if you have poor habits related to your health and safety. Good genes are what doctors tell us is the number one factor in a long life, followed by healthy choices on diet and exercise.

Statistics do tell us a lot about what is likely to happen in our lives and that even applies to motor vehicle accidents. According to statistics from the Insurance Institute, the average American driver to be involved in a motor vehicle crash every 18 years. Of course some people will never be in an accident and others will manage to crash their car many times, but those are the current numbers. Safe drivers who obey the speed limit and drivers who do not text or drive drunk have much better chances of avoiding accidents.

Here is something interesting that probably contributes to the fact that women outlive men:

Many more men than women die each year in motor vehicle crashes. Men typically drive more miles than women and more often engage in risky driving practices including not using safety belts, driving while impaired by alcohol, and speeding. – Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

So, while you don’t want to live your life in a state of fear, wondering when you’re going to have a car crash, you do want to exercise caution and good judgement behind the wheel so you will be one the ones to defy the odds. And you’ll want to be prepared in case an accident does happen, so it’s not a major event. What are the things to do if you’re in an accident?

  1. Never leave the scene of an accident, even if it is minor. Florida law says you must stay and at least give your name and insurance information. If there are any injuries or major damage it must be reported. Don’t make the situation worse by leaving, do the right thing. Call the police.
  2. Make sure anyone injured is safe and out of danger, call the police and paramedics.
  3. Protect the scene and don’t move your vehicle unless it’s causing a safety issue or you are directed to by the police.
  4. Don’t volunteer information to others except for your name and insurance information. Answer questions from the police but don’t offer information they don’t ask for. Be truthful.
  5. Take pictures and get the names and contact information of witnesses.
  6. Write down anything you think is important, do not trust it to memory. Note the time of everything that happened.
  7. Don’t post on social media about the incident.
  8. Don’t admit guilt about anything. Sometimes in the heat of the moment people want to say something they realize later is not accurate. Stay calm and quiet.
  9. If you think you may be hurt, call a personal injury attorney right away. Remember that many injuries don’t immediately show on the surface, especially spinal and muscle injuries. Often people go home after an accident thinking they are fine but wake up the next morning in serious pain. Be safe, call an attorney and explain your situation.
  10. Even after some time has passed, do not talk about the accident or post on social media.
  11. Resist making quick decisions if you are offered a settlement from an insurance company. There is no hurry, take your time and get advice from an experienced attorney.

We hope you are a safe and careful driver and you have a long, peaceful and prosperous life. Expect every day to be a great one, but be prepared for life’s little trials and tribulations, and keep our phone number handy if you ever do need our help or advice. Lazarus Law Firm (954) 356-0006