WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER AN ORLANDO CAR ACCIDENT?
Do you know what to do after a car crash in Orlando, FL? A car accident may shock and traumatize you. You will likely experience confusion, fear, and even anger. If you suffer a concussion, you may not remember what happened. But you must do your best to keep your wits. Your actions after a car crash can affect your right to recover compensation for any injuries you suffer.
Reviewed by: James D. Payer
You have several legal duties under Florida law after a traffic collision. The Orlando car accident lawyers at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you meet your duties and pursue any injury compensation you may be entitled to seek. Contact us for a free case review if you’ve been injured in a wreck. You can call us at (407) 648-1510.
How Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Following a Car Accident in Orlando, FL
The attorneys at Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers have represented injured people in Orlando, Florida. Since then, our Orlando car accident lawyers have recovered over $100 million in settlements and damage awards for our injured clients.
After you suffer an injury due to someone else’s negligent or otherwise wrongful actions, our attorneys provide the following:
- Legal advice and counsel to analyze your case and explain your rights
- Representation before insurance companies to negotiate a fair settlement of your claim
- Courtroom experience for fighting in court against insurers who will not settle
A car accident can seriously injure your limbs, head, and spine. Contact Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn how we can help you seek financial compensation for your car crash injuries.
How Many Car Accidents Happen in Orlando?
The Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes Orange, Seminole, Lake, and Osceola Counties. This definition sweeps in the suburbs of Orlando and the resort corridors in Orange and Osceola Counties that technically fall outside the Orlando city limits.
According to the Florida Crash Dashboard, the four counties of the Orlando MSA combined for 43,668 traffic accidents in 2023. These traffic crashes included 344 fatal and 20,691 non-fatal injury crashes. Of these, 862 were bicycle accidents, and 980 were pedestrian accidents. Subtracting these from the total leaves 19,193 car accidents that caused injury or death.
The one missing piece is how many of these crashes were single-vehicle accidents and how many were multi-vehicle collisions. According to the Florida Crash Facts Report, about 77% of car crashes across Florida in 2022 involved two or more vehicles. Applying that percentage to the Orlando MSA, an estimated 17,748 multi-vehicle crashes occurred in 2023. Read more about car accident statistics here.
Steps To Take After a Car Accident in Orlando, FL
Florida law imposes several legal duties. You must also avoid giving insurers anything they can use to reject your injury claim. Some of the steps you should take after a car crash in Florida include the following:
Stop at the Accident Scene
You must stop at the scene of an accident that causes injury or death. If you fail to stop, prosecutors could charge you with a hit and run.
When you stop, you must check on the occupants of the other vehicle and render any aid they may need. The assistance you must provide may include calling an ambulance or even driving the injured person to the hospital.
Florida law also requires you to exchange information with the other driver if possible. You must give your name, address, and vehicle registration number. Although the law does not specify it, you should also exchange insurance information. Your injury attorney will use this information to file your insurance claims and, if necessary, file a lawsuit against the other driver.
Contact the Police
You must report the crash to the nearest police authority. If you are within the Orlando city limits, you will report to the Orlando Police Department. Outside of Orlando, your call will go to the sheriff’s office for the county where the crash happened. If your crash occurred on the interstate, the Florida Highway Patrol will respond.
Cooperate With the Investigation
The responding officers will investigate your crash. They may do any of the following:
- Interview the drivers involved in the crash
- Interview eyewitnesses
- Take photos of the accident scene and vehicles
- Measure skid marks and gather other evidence
They will use this information to produce a crash report. This report will give you and your injury lawyer the information you need to file an injury claim. You should cooperate with the investigation so the report includes your version of the crash.
Seek Appropriate Medical Help
If you have any injuries that require medical attention, you should seek appropriate medical help. Ask the responding officers for an ambulance if you cannot drive. If you can drive and choose to leave the scene on your own, visit your doctor or a quick care clinic. This visit will create the medical records you need to support your claims.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Orlando Car Accident Lawyers
Even when you do everything right, getting compensation for car crash injuries will still be an uphill battle. Contact Payer Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your car accident and your right to pursue fair compensation for your injuries. Our experienced Orlando car accident attorneys work on contingency, meaning we only get paid if we obtain compensation for you.
We handle all types of car accident claims, including:
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Professional, efficient, helpful, and dedicated to their clients. Lysette West extremely attentive and responsive, answered every question or concern professionally and swiftly. She set my mind at ease during some of the most difficult times I have encountered. Even when I missed an appointment because of a natural disaster. She jumped right into the situation cleared it up and got the ball rolling again in short order. I only wish I was able to call on Payer Law for all my legal issues.
James has a heart for justice and is passionate about helping the ones in need of fair representation. Thank you for your professionalism and confidence in what’s right. Thank you for caring and being there for my mom and our family. God bless.
The staff are courteous and knowledgeable. Chris Payer treats me like family and I know he is fighting for me and my case. I highly recommend Payer Law.
