Most people can expect to experience upwards of five car crashes in their lifetime if they drive from a young age past retirement. Americans, in fact, drive more than two times farther on roads each year compared to even the highest-ranking countries in Europe. Traveling around the country is popular, and Floridians are no strangers to driving to another state for vacation or family visits. If you are out-of-state and are involved in a car crash, it is essential to understand what to do to protect your rights.
Car Accident Checklist, Home or Out-of-State
Before we talk about the differences between what you should prioritize in an out-of-state car accident, we should first review how you should act whenever you are in an auto accident. These tips are designed to help you mitigate liability and begin building a case should the need arise.
- Make contact with the other driver/drivers and obtain relevant contact details such as driver’s license, insurance, and vehicle information.
- Alert the local police and traffic authorities, and emergency medical services if necessary.
- Document any and all evidence that might be relevant to a future case or insurance claim. This can include damage done to both vehicles, damage to public property as a result of the accident, or any potential causes of the accident itself, such as a broken streetlight, pothole, or unmaintained roadway.
- Limit your liability by only talking about relevant information and not talking about culpability. For example, trying to calm down the other driver or hasten the police investigation by admitting some fault in the accident can come back to haunt you later in your claim.
- Keep records of the police interaction, the accident information, and any medical services you requested.
- Contact your insurance company to file a claim and contact a car accident attorney to gauge your situation.
While it may seem excessive to follow a rigorous checklist like this following an accident, it will drastically improve your chances of receiving a payout from insurance or compensation through a lawsuit. In most cases, insurance claims from out-of-state car accidents will be swiftly settled, and payment will typically be awarded to the non-liable party. While this can be done without legal representation, many Florida drivers are unaware of the amount of money truly due to them. An attorney can help you determine if the initial offer from the insurance provider is fair and just (spoiler alert: the first offer is often a lowball.)
When To Hire An Auto Accident Attorney
Anytime the process is complicated or involves significant amounts of money, having an experienced attorney is paramount to ensure you are not ripped off. You may need to locate lawyers who can represent you both in the state of the accident and your home state. If the accident happened in a state close to your home state, your attorney might have a license to practice in both states. However, if you are in a state across the country, you may have to find a lawyer in that state. If you are an out-of-state driver and get in an accident here in Florida, you may also have the opportunity for your attorney to pair up with a local attorney through the pro hac vice arrangement. This allows an attorney local to your area to work outside of their jurisdiction if they are working in conjunction with an attorney from the area of the accident.
If you are in the Sarasota or Tampa area and are a victim of a car accident, call Probinsky & Cole for guidance. We can help you to determine your best course of action and to get you the money you deserve.