Even if you have been fortunate enough to have avoided a car accident so far, you probably know someone who has been injured and are aware of how devastating such an experience can be. Most of us wear our seatbelts, drive the speed limit, and follow traffic rules; still though, thousands are injured each day on our roads nationwide.

You may drive so much that often you feel as if you are on auto-pilot, traveling the same roads and waiting at the same lights each day, going to and from work and running typical errands. You may also be experiencing the same distractions that many drivers are, from rushing to eat your lunch in the car while driving to hearing the phone ring or texts bleep in. It’s easy to think we can handle other tasks when we should be driving, but the wake-up call unfortunately often comes in the form of an accident.

While car accidents are one of the main causes for injury and death in the US, mild fender benders abound on the roads as well—something you probably witness nearly every day if you are driving in a city, with even the smallest car accidents often tying up traffic while cars block the road and other motorists slow down to have a look. There are also many small accidents that occur in parking lots as vehicles are backing out, often at the same time. If you happen to be one of those cars involved, it’s important to know what steps to take and to understand when you should call law enforcement to the scene. We also ask that you take time now to both download and familiarize yourself with the Heintz Injury Help mobile app—now available now on both iTunes and at the Google Play Store.

After any accident take a few moments to breathe and regain your calm. Next, make sure that neither you nor any passengers are injured. If not, step out and make sure the other driver does not need medical help either. Once you’ve established everyone is okay, it’s time to look at both cars and see whether there is any damage. If possible, both cars should also be moved out of the way of traffic, with the hazard lights turned on.

In Florida, the law states that if there appears to damage over $500, the accident must be reported. If that’s the case, you must call the police to the scene and begin exchanging contact information. If there is absolutely no damage and both parties feel confident they have sustained no injuries, there may not be any reason to file a report, and you may feel certain you would be wasting everybody’s time in calling the police out to the scene. That is understandable, but keep in mind that there could now be an underlying car issue that may not show up for a few days—or a physical injury that does not become apparent until later. This could happen on your end or the other party’s end, adding great complication later.

If you have concerns, it is better to save yourself any headaches later by calling the police, having a report filed, and making note of all the driver’s other information as well as where the accident happened and any other pertinent details, along with the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.

If you or a loved one have sustained injuries due to a car accident, please contact Heintz Law now so one of our experienced attorneys can review your case and help you with any legal needs and getting compensation that you may be owed from your insurance company. Call us for a free consultation now at 941-748-2916 or contact us online. We are here to help!