Being involved in a car accident can be a frightening experience. However, you have to remember that remaining calm will do more good than bad. According to a Fort Walton Beach car accident lawyer, there are seven crucial steps that you have to take when you are involved in a car accident. Here they are:

Call the Authorities

Before anything else, it is pivotal to call the authorities and request an ambulance to the scene when a car accident occurs. This is very important because you need to have your injuries examined and recorded, especially if you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit. 

If you can’t call authorities, ask someone else to do it, and if someone is very injured at the accident scene, speak with the authorities on the phone and describe the situation. Follow their instructions carefully to assist the ones in need.

Relocate the Vehicle Offroad

You must relocate your vehicle once you have established that everyone is safe. This is because you can cause a secondary accident. If the car is badly damaged, you should get away from it to a safe distance and signal that an accident has occurred.

Exchange Contact and Insurance Information

You should exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver. Do not admit fault or reach an agreement because you don’t know the true extent of your injuries and who is at fault for the accident. If there are eyewitnesses, you should also write down their contact information.

Take Photos

In a car accident event gathering evidence is very important. If you can, you should take photos and videos of the accident scene to preserve them for later usage. 

File a Police Report

When police officers arrive at the accident scene, you should request a copy of the report that will be filed. Write down the officer’s name and the instructions, if they have provided any, on obtaining the report. According to Florida law, car accidents must be reported if there are injuries, the vehicles require towing, and if there is more than $500 worth of damage.

Seek Medical Attention

For the time being, you should seek further medical attention to treat your wounds and examine your overall health. The most important thing right now is that you are taken care of. If you decide to file a personal injury claim later because your injuries are serious and the PIP doesn’t help you out too much, you should try to keep track of your medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Lastly, if you decide to pursue your personal injury claim, you will need the help of a personal injury lawyer. They can help you build up your case, gather evidence, hire experts to strengthen it and prove fault, and negotiate on your behalf to receive the best possible compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. 

In car accidents, victims don’t just suffer because of their injuries, inability to work, and property damage. They might also deal with pain and suffering, PTSD, anxiety attacks, depression, mental anguish, and various other mental issues that are often overlooked. 

A personal injury attorney can see through this and fight on your behalf to be awarded the rightful damages for your claim. They can also help you establish comparative fault if you are partly responsible for the accident.