After a Car Accident, will Police Respond to Car Accidents in Vero Beach or Sebastian?
A car accident is stressful and no fun. No one enjoys them. To make matters worse, only in some situations will police respond to car accidents in Florida. Make sure you know when police will and when they won't come to your scene of the accident.
Parking Lot Accidents Aren’t The Same as Public Roads
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is a government agency, recently surveyed where car accidents occur. Their results revealed that one out of every five automobile accidents happens in parking garages and parking lots.
“Police Officers won't complete a report, they won't investigate, or become involved in a parking lot accident,” says Steven Lulich, Partner at Lulich Attorneys and Consultants. Mr. Lulich added that “under Florida Law parking lots are considered private property, so ordinary driving rules wouldn’t apply to a privately owned property.”
Will Police Respond to Minor Car Accidents or a Fender Bender?
In Florida, there are certain circumstances where a Police Officer must be called. Failing to call 911 after an accident can result in serious consequences. Since Florida Law Requires you to do so, it’s important to call 911 immediately after an accident as quickly as possible in the following scenarios:
- Someone is injured;
- The accident was a hit-and-run;
- The property damage is over $500; or
- A driver appears to be driving under the influence
In some states, police officers won't respond to a car accident. For example, in Philadelphia, police will not respond to a minor accident or bender if no injuries occurred or if the drives can safely drive away. Mr. Lulich advises his clients “when in doubt, you should always call 911 and file a police report. This makes an official record of the accident, which can be very useful later on.”
Consider How You React After an Accident
We constantly see our clients and victims of accidents not realizing the severity of what happened. At the time it may seem like too much effort to call the police, to file a police report, and to go see a doctor. However, pain often settles in days and even in some circumstances weeks after a collision. Make sure that you don’t do these six things after an accident.
The most important thing to do is to remain calm. Once you believe that you can exit the vehicle, you should check to see if the other passengers have been severely injured as well as the other driver. Safety should be your #1 priority in a car accident.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer about your accident
Anxiety, stress, depression are common symptoms we see our clients dealing with daily as a result of an accident. These accidents can be catastrophic and completely change a person’s daily routine.
We offer to our community Free Consultations. You can call us at our Sebastian Office (772-589-5500) or our Vero Beach Office (772-774-7771) to schedule a free meeting with an experienced lawyer. Or you can start the process by clicking here and filling out a Free Case Evaluation. “Our goal is to make your life simpler.”