Sideswipe accidents are fairly common in Florida, or anywhere with multi-lane roads and highways where people are at risk of merging into each other in their blind spots. Sideswipe accidents are when two vehicles, traveling in either the same or opposite direction of each other, make contact along the sides of the vehicle. In most cases, the damage to the vehicles is contained to the side that made contact with the other vehicle, although one or both vehicles might suffer from structural damage as well as cosmetic.
If you have been in a sideswipe accident and you believe that the other driver was at fault, it is important that you take all of the necessary steps to ensure that this is made clear and that you are not held liable for any of the damages. In addition to clearing yourself of liability, you may also need to seek additional compensation from either the driver or their insurance company in the form of personal injury damages. In order to do so, you must first be able to prove that the other driver was at fault.
1800-Injured has a wide referral network that we connect people who have suffered injuries to a car accident attorney who is ready to take your case. No matter where you are in the process, contact us immediately to get connected with an attorney who can make sense of your situation, explain your options, and ultimately help you determine how you should proceed to ensure that you get the best coverage for your accident.
Read below about how you should respond after a sideswipe accident, what you should do about any possible injuries, and learn a bit more about your legal options that are available.
What To Do After a Sideswipe Accident
Secure The Area
After any accident, the most important thing to do is to make sure that you and your passengers are safe from any additional harm. This could mean pulling your vehicle to the side of the road or into the median, or some other way to get yourself out of oncoming traffic. However, if your vehicle is extremely damaged or one of your passengers has suffered a serious injury, you should remain where you are and not make any attempt to move the victim. This is especially important for someone who you suspect has suffered a spine or neck injury.
Contact The Police
From there, make sure that the proper authorities have been contacted. There are a variety of reasons why it is important to have the police on the scene. First, the police will be able to secure the area and divert traffic, meaning that everyone involved in the crash, as well as the other drivers on the road, are able to stay safe. In addition, the police will be able to take information and file an accident report, which will be extremely helpful if you pursue any personal injury damages from the other driver. Finally, if there are any injuries that require immediate medical attention, the EMTs who arrive will be able to help the victim with their problems.
Collect The Other Drivers Information
If you are able to, be sure that you get all of the important information from the other driver, such as their insurance information, drivers license, and other relevant details. This way, you will be able to follow up with your insurance company, as well as theirs, about how to move forward with your claim. If you suspect that the other driver may be intoxicated or otherwise operating the vehicle in an unsafe condition, this is a great opportunity to confirm your suspicions and tell the police about it.
Don’t Admit Fault For Anything
This is extremely important to follow. It is natural for people to want to apologize to one another after an accident, or to make the other person feel better by saying things like “no, please it’s ok it’s my fault.” This might seem like a polite thing to do, but in actuality, it will cause major issues for you down the road. Do not apologize, take responsibility, or discuss anything regarding the details of the accident with anyone other than the person documenting the crash until you have spoken with an attorney.
Gather All Relevant Information
The relevant information after an accident could include things like police reports, arrest records, and accident reports, as well as any eyewitness accounts or possible traffic camera footage from the area. Eyewitness accounts are especially helpful in some cases, where the other driver may have been acting in a certain way before the accident that you would not have otherwise been aware of. All of this information helps to create a complete picture of the situation for the insurance companies, as well as a judge and jury if necessary.
Get The Appropriate Medical Attention
In some cases, like with severe bruising or muscle injuries, you may not immediately realize that you are seriously injured. In addition, you will likely have your adrenaline pumping, which can seriously reduce your awareness of injuries and the pain you are in. If you suspect that you are injured at all, seek medical attention immediately. Not only is it important to ensure that you are treated for all possible issues, it also establishes paperwork that will support your claims if you must seek personal injury damages.
The longer you wait to see a doctor, the more the other insurance company will question the origin of the injuries, and will rightfully question whether or not you were injured then, or if you were injured in another situation after the accident and are simply just trying to collect damages from them without a real reason.
Contact Us Today To Connect With An Attorney
Before you take any further steps while contacting the other driver’s insurance company, contact us to be connected to our network of trusted, experienced personal injury attorneys. You will be able to speak with them about your situation, learn more about your rights and options, and have the support you deserve while dealing with any negotiation processes. Keep in mind that an insurance company’s primary goal is to limit their payouts as much as possible while protecting their future interests, meaning that any amount they offer you will be far off from what you rightfully deserve. With the help of an attorney that you meet through 1800-Injured, you can be confident that these negotiations will be aggressive and fair.
If you are unable to reach an agreement during negotiations, then your attorney will take your case to the Florida courts, and fight for your rights in front of a judge and jury to ensure that you receive the care you need and the financial compensation that you deserve.