If you’re involved in an auto accident in California, there are certain steps you must take immediately to help your chances of securing a fair settlement later. During this chaotic time, it’s important that you remain calm and complete as many of the steps in this guide as possible. Keep in mind that one of the most important steps is contacting an auto accident attorney after you’ve received medical treatment and gathered evidence that can help with your claim.
Steps to Take After a Motor Vehicle Collision
The steps you take after a car crash can protect your health and your claim.
Check for Injuries
With adrenaline coursing through your body, you may not feel pain right away, which is why it’s important to look yourself over and check for injuries immediately. If you have been severely injured contact 911.
Get Off the Road
After a car wreck, your vehicle may be in a dangerous spot. Get off the road, far away from traffic as soon as it’s safe to do so. If your vehicle isn’t operational, turn on your hazard lights and leave the vehicle.
Contact Law Enforcement
If you don’t require immediate medical treatment, instead of contacting 911, contact law enforcement. The responding police officer will create a police report that will include important information that can strengthen your claim, such as
- The law enforcement officer’s opinion regarding which party was at fault
- A description of your injuries and vehicle damage
- A diagram of the accident scene
- Other helpful accident details
Exchange Contact Information with the Other Driver
Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. Do not apologize for the accident. This can be viewed as admitting fault.
Gather Evidence
If you can walk around the accident scene, gather evidence, including photos of your injuries, vehicle damage, skid marks, debris on the road, and anything you believe contributed to or caused the collision.
Obtain Witness Contact Information
If anyone witnessed your accident, obtain their names and contact information. Your car accident attorney will want to speak to them and obtain a statement.
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you don’t believe you were injured or think your injuries are minor, you should still have a medical exam. Certain types of injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, may not present symptoms right away, or you may not feel pain and discomfort for several hours until the adrenaline has worn off. Seeking medical treatment immediately following a car wreck can protect your health, ensuring you receive vital medical treatment. It can also link your injuries to the accident, preventing an insurance company from claiming you were injured at some point after the accident.
Follow Through with Medical Treatment
It’s important to make it to every doctor’s appointment, physical therapy appointment, etc. Doing so will not only improve your condition but can improve your chances of recovering compensation for past and future medical care costs and other damages.
Document Everything
Keep track of your lost wages if you are not able to work due to your injuries. If you’re experiencing pain, keep a journal and document how often you’re in pain, the level of pain you’re experiencing, using a scale of 1-10, and how your injuries have affected your life. This type of documentation can help prove lost wages and pain and suffering damages.
Avoid Using Social Media
Insurance companies often monitor a claimant’s social media profiles, looking for anything they can use to justify denying a claim or paying less. For example, if you post a photo participating in a physical activity, such as football, the claims adjuster can use this as evidence that you are not as severely injured as you claim to be. Do not post anything on social media during this time, including posts discussing the accident.
Contact a Car Wreck Lawyer
Contact a car crash attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can handle every aspect of your claim, including investigating the accident, gathering evidence, and negotiating with the insurance company. A car accident lawyer’s understanding of the claims process and negotiating tactics can help you recover the fair settlement you deserve.
What Happens if I Get into a Car Accident with No Insurance?
If you get into a car accident with no insurance and you were at fault for the accident, you will have to pay for the other driver’s damages out of pocket. You will most likely have to pay fines for driving without insurance, may have your license suspended, and may even be faced with jail time if you were at-fault for the accident and the collision resulted in severe bodily injury or death. However, if the other driver was at fault, they will still be financially responsible for your accident-related damages. After this type of accident, it’s important to contact a car wreck lawyer as soon as possible to protect your claim and your legal rights.
Contact Us Today
If you were injured in a motor vehicle collision in California that was caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation. At Avaness Law, our car accident lawyers can investigate your accident, gather evidence, and build a strong case that can help you recover the compensation you deserve, for an accident that was not your fault. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a car crash attorney on our legal team to learn more.
