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Every year, fatal accidents occur on the roads of San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. Thousands more are seriously injured, and for many of them, life will never be the same. It is essential to hold negligent drivers accountable for the damage they cause. You may be able to sue a negligent driver for damages, allowing you to pursue compensation for all the injuries and losses you suffer.
Bay Area Accident Statistics
The Bay Area experiences significant traffic safety challengeQs, with concerning accident statistics reported annually. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area saw significant traffic safety concerns in 2016. More than 33,000 accidents involving fatalities, serious injuries, and minor injuries were reported in the Bay Area that year. Four hundred fifty-five victims were killed in traffic accidents.
Simple precautions can drastically reduce the odds of causing a traffic accident. Never drive when drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications impair you. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by a smartphone, navigation program, or in-vehicle entertainment system. It would be advisable to settle any children or pets before you begin driving, so they do not divert your attention from the road.
It is also essential to take safety precautions when you are not in a vehicle. Traffic safety data shows that approximately one-third of all Bay Area traffic fatalities involve bicyclists and pedestrians, highlighting the vulnerability of these road users who lack the protection of vehicle safety features. In many cases, these road users are more vulnerable to severe injuries because they do not have the protection of a vehicle. Airbags, seatbelts, and even the steel frame of the car all provide a layer of protection that mitigates the risk of being seriously injured or killed in a car accident.
What To Do After A Bay Area Auto Accident
It can be challenging to know what to do after a car accident. You may be in a stressful situation, and your life might even be in danger. By knowing what you can do ahead of time, you may help protect yourself and your legal right to seek compensation.
Immediate Medical Care
The priority after an auto accident should be your immediate medical needs. Even if you are not sure you want an ambulance, the 911 dispatcher can send a team to evaluate your injuries. This action could be meaningful later. You may not be able to detect your injuries after the shock of a car crash.
Even if you do not take an ambulance to the hospital, you can still consider being seen at an emergency department or urgent care facility. Here, too, medical professionals can monitor your ongoing status and perform tests to evaluate whether you have any potential injuries. Moreover, you can still see your primary care doctor if you do not choose to go to the emergency department or an urgent care center. Only a qualified medical professional can give you a clean bill of health.
Protecting Your Legal Rights
Once you have addressed your immediate medical needs, you may want to focus on your legal options. Consider meeting with a personal injury lawyer after an accident. A quick call to an attorney after an accident may help with your case. Prompt legal action may give your counsel ample time to investigate the accident and prepare your claim. Additionally, your attorney can protect you from making statements that could hurt your case.
An attorney handling the legal aspects of your case on your behalf may help you focus on your well-being. You can seek their advice on protecting your rights, handling documents to be filed, or communicating with the other driver’s insurance company. Your attorney will handle these matters for you, allowing you to focus on your health treatment.
Long-Term Medical Care
To help with proper health and injury improvement, follow through with all treatment recommendations from your medical providers. Injuries that are not properly treated tend to get worse over time. If you don’t follow the treatment plan for your injuries after the accident, you may suffer further pain in the future.
Failure to follow through on treatment can also impact your legal rights. If your pain and suffering worsen due to failing to treat your injuries properly, the other driver’s insurance company may use your inaction to challenge your claim for compensation. They are only liable for the pain and suffering caused by their negligent driver and not for any pain and suffering that you caused by failing to follow through on medical treatment. Refrain from giving the insurance company a reason to dispute or deny your claim.
Experienced Bay Area Traffic Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been involved in a Bay Area car crash, consider seeking legal counsel. You may have the legal right to seek compensation for your injuries and losses. If you do not have an attorney protecting your legal rights, you may be subject to common pitfalls in the claims process. Call (888) 488-1391 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation with a California injury lawyer at Arash Law.
Our team of personal injury and car accident lawyers has experience supporting clients with cases in San Francisco, Riverside, San Jose, San Diego, Sacramento, Sherman Oaks, and across California.
