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Auto Accident Checklist
When you are hit by another vehicle many of us will not remember the basic auto accident checklist of what to do. We at Doran, Beam & Farrell have a simple word to assist you, “HELP”!
Health
Check to see if you or your passengers are injured. If there is any indication of injury or pain, call for medical help. If possible, check the other drivers. Immediately dial 911 and summon the police to the scene of the accident – regardless of whether there are injuries. Do not buy into the other driver’s promise to settle later.
Exchange
Get names and addresses of any independent witnesses. If possible, quickly obtain all information about the other drivers involved. Get names, car license numbers, driver’s license numbers and insurance information. Witnesses can make the difference in your case.
At the accident scene don not jump out of your car and say you are sorry and it is your fault before you have a chance to see if they ran a light or were driving recklessly. Why? If you come back later and say you were not at fault, the statements made at the scene may be held against you. It is best to not argue with anyone and simply exchange information while waiting for the authorities to arrive.
Look
Look at the accident scene. Note where your car is located and where other cars are located. Look to see if anything else could have contributed or caused the accident. Look for pieces of the vehicles. Write down your impressions as soon as possible.
Check to see if there are any witnesses nearby. Do you see anyone standing in their yard or outside a store watching the accident scene? Get their information and be sure to report it to the police.
Photograph
Use a camera or your cell phone to take photos of as much as you can. Capture the moment in pictures. Be sure to take photos of the damage to their cars as well as the scene.
Try to capture a picture of the vehicles before they are moved.
After you do those four (4) things, call our office to speak with a member of our team and scheduled your free consultation with an attorney! It is important to speak with an attorney before you give any statements to any insurance company or sign any releases or documentation from the insurance carrier regarding the claim.
Auto Insurance Claim Types
For Florida drivers, the question of what an auto insurance policy will cover can have a pretty complex answer. Policy-holder questions range from whether their vehicle’s policy applies to their college-aged children to what kind of coverage, if any, they will get if they are hit as a pedestrian.
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As legal professionals who have specialized in this field in Florida for years, we can answer all your auto insurance policy questions.
Ideally, the coverage you receive would be cut-and-dry – however, this is not always the case. You may hold an insurance policy and make your payments in a timely manner, but in the event of an auto accident your insurer may not want to pay out to the degree that you see fit. At Doran, Beam & Farrell we have extensive experience in dealing with such cases. Our office is here to help you through all of these obstacles.
Are you protected?
Florida law may require all drivers to insure their cars, but this does not mean that every car will be insured with the proper coverages to pay for your damages. Some drivers will choose to risk driving without insurance or purchase the bare minimum required, which can be inadequate to cover the medical and property damage costs of accident victims. At this time, the law does not require that drivers carry bodily injury liability (BI) or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM) policies, but it is highly encouraged that they do. If you have any questions about your policy and whether or not you are protected, contact our office for a free evaluation.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists
Hit by an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist?
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Florida
When your insurance policy features uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist (UM) protection, it means that your
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insurance may cover the cost of any damage that an at-fault motorist who is uninsured or underinsured causes, as well as drivers that cannot be located after an accident.
Because many people do not know their insurance policy’s full range of coverage, it is easy for insurance policies to deny some claims, even if they have merit. In the incident of an accident caused by an uninsured/underinsured motorist, the attorneys at Doran, Beam & Farrell will work hard to make sure that insurance companies accept our clients’ claims to the fullest possible extent.
Optimizing Your Benefits
You may fall victim to an uninsured/underinsured motorist even if you are not in your car. Some coverage can extend to pedestrian, bicyclist, or motorcyclist accidents. Hit-and-run accidents can also be covered, as can those have incurred when a driver not listed under your policy is driving your insured car at the time of an accident. These are all options that should be discuss upon purchasing your auto insurance policy.
If you were involved in an accident with an underinsured/uninsured motorist, it is important that you talk to a legal professional before making an injury claim. This will ensure that you get the most out of your Florida UM policy.
