Your life can be transformed in a split second. One moment you’re driving home or to work or to the store, and the next moment, your car is crushed from the force of an impact. A car accident can leave you with devastating injuries that can have life-long effects. And then there’s the cost of car repairs, your lost wages, the extra expenses of hiring someone to help with tasks around the house and much more.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you may have a viable legal claim, and that’s where an experienced personal injury lawyer can help. A Clearwater car accident lawyer like Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A., and his elite legal team will aggressively and strategically strive to help you recover the money you deserve for your damages.

If you or a loved one were injured in a car crash, contact a Clearwater personal injury lawyer like Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A. to discuss your case in a no-cost case evaluation. Call 727-781-3433.

What to Do After a Car Accident and When to Contact a Top Clearwater Car Accident Lawyer

Lots of drivers have never been in a crash, so it’s common to have questions following an accident. What should I do following a car crash? Should I call a personal injury lawyer? What info do I need to get at the accident scene? These are all common questions that our Clearwater personal injury lawyers receive, so let’s take a look at these FAQs, compiled by Attorney Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A.’s legal team.

What Should I Do Following a Car Accident?

After an auto accident, lawyers can offer valuable advice to maximize your chances of a positive outcome both in a legal sense and in a general sense.

You should always pull over after an auto collision, even if it seems minor. If you leave the scene without stopping, this could result in a hit and run charge.

In the seconds and minutes after an accident, it may be wise to dial 911 to summon help. This is recommended if the accident involves significant damage, possible injuries, if the accident occurred in a dangerous or busy location or if the other driver looks to be impaired. Police can also perform an investigation at the scene, documenting the accident in an objective manner. This account of the accident scene can be very important if your case goes to court.

It’s always wise to photograph the accident scene if you are physically and safely able to do so. Ideally, you should photograph the vehicles and the entire scene (with all involved vehicles in the frame) before the cars are moved (though this won’t be possible if you need to move onto the shoulder or a side street for safety reasons.) Also, photograph skid marks because they can be used to determine vehicle speed.

You will also need to swap information with the other driver (or drivers.) This info should include your name, address, phone number, license number, insurance information, the make/model of your car and license plate information.

If any witnesses stop, get their name and contact information. An eyewitness can be a wonderful asset if your personal injury case goes to court.

Even in a minor crash, it’s usually wise to visit your doctor for an examination. Many serious internal injuries leave no external marks and the adrenaline from a crash can dull pain that may signal a serious or even life-threatening injury. It’s important to get prompt documentation of your injuries after the accident. Photographing injuries is also recommended.

It’s usually beneficial to contact a Clearwater personal injury lawyer if you’re injured in an accident. The attorney will discuss your case to determine if he or she can be of assistance.

What is a No-Fault Car Insurance State?

Florida is considered a no-fault insurance state, which means that insurance companies are mandated to cover an auto insurance claim no matter who was deemed at-fault in the accident.

Florida drivers are required to have personal injury protection (PIP) benefits, which cover medical bills, a portion of lost wages and other non-medical damages. You must also have property damage liability (PDL) benefits to cover the cost of property damage that results from the accident.

What’s the Florida Injury Threshold?

Following a Clearwater car accident, you may consult with a personal injury lawyer who can help you to determine if you meet the Florida injury threshold. The law states that in order to file a personal injury lawsuit, you must have serious injuries that meet or surpass a particular threshold.

Injuries that may meet or exceed the threshold include:

• injuries that are permanent in nature;
• injuries that result in serious scarring and disfigurement; or
• injuries that cause the loss of an important body function, such as the ability to walk.

In addition, a car accident victim may also consider filing a legal claim in the case of negligence on the other party’s part or you may take action if a loved one died in a crash involving negligence.

What is Comparative Negligence Law?

Florida has a comparative negligence law, which is used to assign a percentage of fault to the involved drivers following a crash. This percentage of fault has an impact on how much compensation you may receive if you file a personal injury lawsuit. For example, if you are assigned 10% of the fault in the crash, then any financial award would be reduced by 10%.

Need Help from a Clearwater Accident Lawyer?

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, turn to the Clearwater accident attorneys with the law offices of Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A. It’s important to act soon because the law limits the length of time you have to file a legal claim.

Clearwater personal injury lawyer Jeffrey W. Hensley, P.A.  is available to provide a confidential, no-cost case consultation. Just call 727-781-3433.