Evaluate the Situation
After the accident, immediately see if anyone is injured. If so, call 911 to get an ambulance and police on the scene. If nobody is hurt, it’s still a good idea to call the police, so they are there to officially document the accident. Alerting the police can be quite useful if you have to file a report with your insurance company. If the vehicles are still drivable, move them to a safe nearby location such as the shoulder or a nearby road. You want to make sure you aren’t obstructing other drivers from safely traveling on the road.
Document the Accident
In the state of Florida, victims of auto accidents are required to give specific information to a law enforcement officer for documentation. In you are in an auto accident, you will likely be asked to provide the following information:
Name, Address, Vehicle Registration, Driver’s License, Insurance
If you do not call an officer to the scene of an accident, you will need to file a crash report within ten days of the accident. Some car insurance companies offer free smartphone apps that allow their customers to help document the details of a crash scene. You can visit your auto insurance company’s website to see if they have an app for their customers to use in an auto-accident situation.
Don’t Put the Blame on Yourself
When you are in an auto accident, it’s important to remember that anything you say while at the crash scene could be used against you when filing an insurance claim. Make sure that you do not say the accident was your fault, even if you think it may have been. Also, if you think you are unharmed by the accident, but are asked by police or the paramedics if you are injured, provide a vague response like, “I don’t believe I need medical attention at this moment.” You may be injured and not realize it at the time.
Get Treatment for your Auto Accident Injury
After being in an auto accident, you may suffer a variety of different injuries depending on the severity of the accident. One of the most common injuries in auto accidents is soft tissue damage, which is caused by whiplash during the crash. Soft tissue damage of muscles, ligaments and tendons can result in swelling, pain, bruising and damage. Soft tissue injuries are classified as:
- Contusions (bruises)
- Sprains
- Tendonitis
- Muscle Spasms
- Headaches
- Bursitis
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Stress Injuries
- Strains
Contact the office of Jeffrey Kidd, M.D. today at 386-951- 6684 to learn all about how our chiropractic and pain management treatment can help with your auto injury. We focus on treating all soft tissue injuries from auto accidents, and we are committed to helping our patients minimize their pain and stress.