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Tampa Car Accident Lawyer’s Guide to Auto Accidents with Injuries
In the moments following an auto accident
with injuries, it’s difficult to think about what to do next.
The first priority, of course, would be securing medical attention
for everyone’s injuries. Next, if you are able to proceed
safely, here are some steps that would be recommended by most
Tampa car accident lawyers:
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Call 911 for police and an ambulance, even if you’re not
sure of the extent of the injuries
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Try to get out of harm’s way (i.e., out of the path of traffic)
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Turn off ignitions and check for gas leaks
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Get names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, home addresses,
and places of employment of those involved in the auto accident
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Write down the names, badge numbers, and agencies of police
officers who respond to the accident (i.e., Tampa Police,
Florida Highway Patrol, etc.)
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Find witnesses
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Ask witnesses for names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses,
home addresses, and places of employment
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Write down exactly what witnesses said they saw
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Take lots of pictures of the accident scene from many different
angles (you can use a cell phone camera or disposable camera)
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Take pictures of your injuries, including burns, red marks,
sores, etc.
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If you don’t have a camera, make notes about the accident
scene and your injuries
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Draw a diagram of the accident including vehicles involved,
roads, time, weather, etc.
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Call your insurance company to report the accident
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Contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible after
the accident
As many Tampa car accident lawyers will tell
you, the more evidence you gather as soon as possible after
the accident, the better chance you have of receiving a satisfactory
settlement for your injuries or winning a jury verdict. Therefore,
after a car accident, the three basic steps are: (1) getting
medical attention, (2) gathering evidence at the scene, and
(3) calling a car accident lawyer for advice.
To learn more from a car accident lawyer with
years of experience in the greater Tampa Bay area, please
call or e-mail the Law Offices of Dale Appell, P.A. for a
free consultation.
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