5 Steps If You’ve Suffered An Accident – Tips From A Fort Myers Personal Injury Lawyer

I’ve handled hundreds of accident cases in Florida and many in Fort Myers throughout my career as a personal injury attorney. Whether you’ve been the victim of a car accident, carelessness in a hotel, store or tourist destination that resulted in you slipping and falling or some other negligence by another party, these five steps will help see you through the immediate aftermath of your unfortunate incident…

  1. Don't Panic
    Obvious? Yes. Easy? No. The adrenaline is pumping. Anger and fear may be coursing through you. The important thing is that you don’t respond in a detrimental way (threats, assault, etc.) to the awful situation you find yourself in. Take a moment–you’re not on any time clock. Settle yourself. You’re going to get through this. After all, you have these steps to follow…

  2. Assess How You Feel – Seek Medical Treatment
    Take another moment and determine if you’re injured. Are you bleeding? Does it hurt to move a body part (arms, legs, neck, back)? Do you have trouble walking? Are you dizzy, woozy or having vision issues? Have someone call an ambulance or drive you to an emergency room or urgent care clinic.

  3. Take Photos
    All right. Now, we’re moving on to supporting your potential claim against the negligent party. As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Pull out your smart phone or camera, if you have one handy, and take some photos of the scene to provide visual support for your claim. If you’ve been in a car accident, take photos of both cars (the scene–including the two cars and where they are now on the street, the damage on both cars, tire marks, etc.). If you’ve slipped and fallen, take photos of what you slipped on (liquid on the floor, loose stair, debris, etc.). We want to obtain a photographic record of the scene and potentially the other party’s negligence.

  4. Report the Incident
    Get this incident on record, so if you need to seek a claim against the party later, there is evidence the incident occurred and a specific date and time associated with it. If you were hit by a vehicle, call the police and have them fill out an accident report. If the accident occurred in a store, restaurant, hotel or some other business, report the injury to a manager (get their name). Most likely, they will fill out an incident report (ask for a copy).

  5. Contact Us
    The sooner we can be involved, the better. It enables us to advise you on the best way to proceed. The other party’s insurance or lawyers may start contacting you right away. We want to make sure you’re prepared, so you don’t compromise your potential case.

Reach us here, by email or by phone (855-523-5628).