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A major car accident can have a significant impact on your quality of life, especially if it results in a serious injury. If it doesn’t, it tangles you up in medical, insurance, and legal challenges if you decide to pursue a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.
The chances of being involved in a collision are high, especially on busy roads with heavy traffic. The car insurance industry has calculated that the average American will file a car collision claim every 17.9 years. According to industry data, the average driver may be involved in three or four collisions throughout their driving career.
That number won’t mean anything to you when you are in the moment of dealing with the aftermath of a car accident in California. Car accidents take thousands of American lives every year and cost the country billions in comprehensive costs. It can be a traumatic experience from beginning to end for all involved parties.
If you’ve been in a car accident, managing legal matters while recovering from serious injuries can be especially challenging. At Arash Law, our car accident lawyers can help you navigate the claims process, represent your interests, advocate for your rights, and assist you in pursuing compensation for your losses. Call us at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free case review.
Trauma And Shock After A Car Accident
Car accidents, especially those with serious consequences, can leave injury victims in trauma or shock. Getting sued, taking someone to court, getting stopped by the police, or witnessing a horrible thing happening to somebody can also add additional stress. All of these things can occur after a major car accident.
Some accident victims experience psychological shock and trauma after a crash, which may develop into a condition known as acute stress disorder.
As an acute condition, shock may be temporary and heal with time. However, it can be a physical condition that is also psychological in nature. The symptoms of shock include:
- Cold skin, clammy or moist to the touch
- Pale appearance
- Behavior changes
- Blue or gray lips and fingernails
- Increased pulse and breathing
- Enlarged pupils
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Weakness or fatigue
In extreme cases, you can even lose consciousness. Medical professionals categorize shock in three stages, with Stage III shock being the most severe and life-threatening. You can seek help at the scene of a car accident from medics if you are in shock.
Shock can be treated with IV fluids, oxygen, and medication to restore your internal systems to equilibrium. It is important to note that when you are in shock, your body is pumping adrenaline, and you may not feel physical pain the way you would normally. You may not even know you are in pain for a few hours.
If you don’t know the answer to a medical or legal question, you can just say you don’t know. Document as much as you can at the scene of the accident, as well as when you are getting treatment. Severe injuries should be tended to right away, although you do have the right to refuse treatment if you wish.
When you partner with us and let us manage your case, we will work to assist you in pursuing compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses after a major car accident in California. Contact Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation. When you don’t know what to do after a car accident, we are ready to help explore your legal options.
What To Do After A Major Car Accident
After you have been in a major car accident, it can be hard to think straight. You might be in shock and not have any idea how to clear your head and your breathing to figure things out. Important things to keep in mind if you find yourself in the aftermath of a major car accident include:
- Report the accident promptly and call 911 if there are severe injuries.
- If there are injuries, California Vehicle Code Section 20008 requires you to file a written report to the DMV within 24 hours.
- If the police arrive at the scene of the accident and file a report, you are not required to submit a separate report yourself.
- While you are waiting for the police or emergency personnel, gather information from the other driver or drivers and from all witnesses, if possible.
- Record their names, phone numbers, and any contact information.
- Do not accept any settlement offers related to the accident without first consulting a lawyer. If you receive an offer, let the party know that you will have your lawyer review it before making a decision.
- Notify your insurance company about the accident.
- Document as much of the scene as you can with photos and notes, including weather conditions, traffic indicators, and sections of the roads where the accident did not occur.
- You are not required to show your cell phone or any mobile device to anyone without a warrant. Do not give your phone or any of your devices to anyone that you do not know, no matter how nice they may seem.
- Know that your insurance company is required to respond to you within 15 days of the accident. If they do not, tell your attorney.
- Call a personal injury attorney or car accident lawyer to help you file a claim for your damages.
If you suffered injuries in a major car accident, you may have grounds to seek compensation, depending on the specific circumstances. Consulting with a personal injury attorney can help you address the challenges that may arise in the claims process, such as low settlement offers, disputes over liability, and denial of claims.
At Arash Law, we have helped car accident victims pursue compensation for their injuries and losses resulting from a major accident. Call Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 or complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form here for a free initial consultation.
Causes Of Major Car Accidents
There are several common causes of major car accidents. California is an at-fault state that follows comparative fault guidelines. This means that each party is responsible for their percentage of fault in an accident. For example, if one party is found to be 95 percent at fault, they will be responsible for 95 percent of the damages, while the remaining 5 percent will be deducted from your final settlement.
The most common causes of major car accidents in California are:
- Distracted driving killed 3,142 Americans in 2019. It is a violation of California Vehicle Code Section 23123.
- Drunk driving kills about 34 people in the United States every day (or one person every 42 minutes).
- Speeding.
- Improper turns.
- Reckless or aggressive driving.
Texting and driving is a form of distracted driving and violates California Vehicle Code Section 23123. It killed 3,142 Americans in 2019. Drinking and driving is criminal and deadly. It kills on average 29 Americans every day (or 1 American every 50 minutes).
If you have been in a car accident, avoid admitting fault or accepting blame at the scene, even if you believe you may be responsible. Statements made after the accident can affect how liability is determined and may impact your ability to seek compensation later. Call Arash Law’s drunk driving accident victim lawyers at (888) 488-1391 and book a free review of your case.
Coping With Pain And Suffering
When you have been in a major car accident, California personal injury law allows you to file a claim for the resulting losses and damages. That may include medical bills, car repairs or replacement, and even your future medical bills, depending on the specifics of your case.
You may also be able to pursue compensation for lost wages and lost future income if you are so injured that you are unable to return to work right away.
The initial shock from the accident can result in ongoing pain and suffering. A major accident can also have a profound emotional impact on your life. You may suffer flashbacks from the accident, be afraid to drive again, or have problems coping with the emotions of this problem.
Common signs of emotional trauma that car accident victims experience include:
- Denial or Disbelief — You can’t believe this happened to you. It may feel like numbness, sadness, or that you’re watching this from afar and it’s happening to someone else.
- Anger — You lost property, possibly your job, and you might have injuries. When suffering injuries and losses after a crash, feeling anger is a normal reaction.
- Guilt — This feeling is also normal. Maybe if you hadn’t gone to the store that day, had someone else pick up your child from school, or even left the phone at home, life would be the same now. It will take time to process and get through the experience. Accidents happen.
- Anxiety — After you have experienced a major accident, you now know that it can happen to someone. You may be nervous, paranoid a little, and have genuine fears over things connected to accidents, cars, hospitals, and people. Your anxiety can be heightened for a little bit.
Most of these feelings are easy to recognize. Anxiety is a tough one. That is because it shows up in a lot of ways that you don’t really understand. You could be having trouble sleeping one night and not realize that this is a problem connected to anxiety.
Signs that you are struggling with anxiety include:
- You worry a lot, and it may seem like too much to some people. It’s the accident.
- Things you don’t want to think about keep coming to you. Those are called unwanted thoughts.
- Flashbacks or bad memories of the accident
- Problems sleeping, too much or too little
- Problems falling asleep
- Nightmares.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Confusion or making simple decisions, such as choosing dinner or what to wear, for example.
- Sense of uneasiness around other people.
- Staying busy so you don’t have to think about the accident.
- Increased heart rate
- Dry mouth
- Crying a lot
- Frequent headaches not connected to physical injury.
- Upset stomach
- A sensitive startle response, such as frequently feeling jumpy.
- Aches and pains in your muscles that aren’t connected to the accident.
Our car accident attorneys at Arash Law have years of experience working with car accident victims and representing them in various personal injury cases. If you were injured in a car accident in California, we can help you navigate the legal process. Call our California car accident claims lawyers at (888) 488-1391 for a free initial consultation.
Book A Free Initial Consultation With California Car Accident Attorneys
At Arash Law, our experienced attorneys are committed to advocating for your rights and representing your interests, whether in or out of court. If you have been involved in a major car accident or someone you love has, call our California personal injury attorneys at (888) 488-1391 or contact us online for a free case review. We can represent you during negotiations or trial and pursue compensation for your injuries in accordance with California law.
