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What Do I Do After A Car Accident?
A car accident is a terrifying experience. Many injury victims have not been involved in a car accident before and do not know what to do. As a result, the entire experience can be overwhelming. Our accident lawyers have guided many auto injury victims through the process; however, the steps below are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. After a crash, check for injuries, move to safety if you can, call 911, and document the scene. Learn more about what to do after a car accident so you can be prepared for the unexpected.
Prioritize Getting Everyone Safely Out Of The Path Of Oncoming Traffic
First and foremost, everyone involved in the accident must get out of the path of oncoming traffic. Many auto accidents result in secondary collisions from “rubberneckers.” These drivers watch the accident scene instead of paying attention to the traffic around them.
If another accident occurs, you want to be as far away as possible. Find a safe place off the side of the road, far away from traffic. If your car is not drivable, just leave it where it is and walk to a safe spot away from traffic. You do not want to be in the vehicle if another car hits it. Other drivers, passengers, bicyclists, scooter riders, pedestrians, or motorcycle riders might need assistance getting out of the way of traffic.
If you are able, help anyone who needs it. If you are unsure whether someone can be moved safely, call 911 and ask if it is safe to move the victim. The dispatcher will advise you on how to move the injured party safely or wait for emergency medical services to arrive.
Call 911
Even if you are unsure whether anyone is injured in the accident, it is still essential to call 911. Emergency medical technicians have the training to determine whether someone is injured. They are also trained on how to move car accident victims without exacerbating their injuries. Do not guess and make anyone’s injuries worse. Get help right away.
Even if no one has been injured, it is still important to call 911 or the local police. Law enforcement will assist in documenting the scene and exchanging insurance information. Doing this also helps to protect your legal rights.
The police report is likely the persuasive piece of evidence insurance companies use in processing injury claims related to car accidents. Officers can also take photos and measurements and gather other evidence that may help your car accident lawyer establish your case. A law enforcement officer can also determine if any crimes have been committed.
If you were the victim of a reckless driver, an impaired driver, or a hit-and-run driver, evidence of this crime would be critical to your injury claim. Only an officer can cite drivers and make arrests for these crimes. Sometimes, in a minor fender bender case, it may be obvious that no one was injured and no one was driving under the influence.
It would be recommended that you still have law enforcement respond to the scene in order to protect your legal rights. The other driver might ask if you can “just take care of it” or not involve anyone (such as the police or insurance companies that enforce your legal right to compensation). Handling the situation this way only protects the negligent driver, not you. You could jeopardize your legal right to compensation by attempting to assist the other driver.
Do not do this. Call the police whenever an accident occurs. If the dispatcher determines that you do not need police to respond, that is fine, but be sure to make the call at least.
Get Any Immediate Medical Attention That Is Needed
After an accident, there is a good chance that you will be injured. The EMTs and first responders can help you determine if you have to go to the hospital right away. If so, be sure to go, and do not worry about anything else. The officers will gather evidence at the scene and come to the hospital to take your statement. You don’t need to worry about obtaining insurance information, taking photos, or any other details.
Listen to your body. If anything feels wrong, you have to get it checked out by a medical professional. Only a doctor or another licensed provider can determine if there is something wrong with your body.
Many accident victims are worried about the cost of an ambulance ride, and in many cases, this is a valid concern. Under California law, a negligent driver may be held responsible for these costs. An injury lawyer will help figure out the proper way to get these medical bills paid. But if you don’t go to the hospital when you have to, you could make your injuries much worse. Not getting a professional evaluation could make it difficult to negotiate the value of your personal injury claim.
More importantly, it could cost you your life. Some life-threatening injuries, like brain injuries and internal bleeding, are not apparent right away. If you go to a hospital and a doctor is able to diagnose these injuries right away, you can get treatment in time to save your life.
But if you wait to go to the doctor, it may be too late. Do not delay necessary medical care out of concerns about what it will cost. The experienced injury attorneys at Arash Law have guided many victims through the claims process and helped them understand their options for pursuing compensation related to their medical care after a car accident.
Speak Only To Law Enforcement Officers About The Accident
It is a natural instinct to start talking about the accident as soon as it occurs. Unfortunately, even statements you blurt out in the heat of the moment can be used against you. Something as simple as “I didn’t see you!” can be twisted by the defendant’s insurance company to try to blame you and label you as the at-fault party of the incident.
Because of this, you may want to find an injury lawyer. However, before you do, refrain from discussing what happened. You can ask if everyone is all right or if anyone needs medical attention. Be sure that everyone is safe on the accident scene, but do not discuss what happened or who was at fault. Simply get the other driver’s insurance information and let your car accident lawyer handle the rest.
It is okay to speak to law enforcement officers about what happened. They are investigating the accident to determine what happened. Insurance companies typically accept the results of a police investigation because the police are considered a neutral third party. The police will ask you to make a statement about what happened. You might also be asked to draw a diagram.
All of this is okay. If possible, try to get the officer’s information or find out how you can get a copy of the report once it is ready. This usually takes a few days after the accident.
If Possible, Gather Evidence
You might be able to take photos or videos of the accident scene. If you can do so safely, feel free to gather this type of information. It can be useful to your personal injury lawyer later. But do not delay medical care in order to photograph the accident scene.
Be sure to safely step out of the way of traffic before taking photos or videos on your cell phone. And if you cannot get evidence at the accident scene, that is okay. The police investigation will help your lawyer explain what happened to cause the accident.
Go To An Emergency Department Or Urgent Care
You might feel okay after a car accident. Feeling that way is fairly common: the adrenaline rush of the accident can put you in a state of shock, where you are so focused on what happened and staying safe that you do not yet feel the physical impact the accident had on your body. There are also some injuries that simply do not show up right away.
Whiplash is common, and it does not usually show symptoms until hours after the accident. A slow internal bleed might not show signs for hours until your blood pressure starts to drop. The point is that you do not know what is happening to your body after an accident.
For this reason, it is so important to see a doctor promptly after an accident. Find an urgent care facility or emergency department near you. Even a simple examination can help find any latent injuries and determine whether you have to seek medical care.
Again, California law allows injury victims to seek compensation for medical costs from a negligent defendant. Your car accident attorney can help you determine how to get these bills paid. Do not delay seeking necessary medical attention due to the cost.
Find A Car Accident Lawyer
As soon as the defendant’s insurance company is notified that you have a lawyer, they may no longer contact you directly about the accident. All communication must go through your attorney. Doing this protects you from accidentally saying something to the other side that could hurt your case. Because of this, it is so important to find a car crash attorney.
Legal representation offers essential guidance and protection for your rights during the claims process. Your lawyer will also advise you on other important actions to take or avoid, such as posting about the accident on social media, which could potentially harm your case. The auto accident attorneys at Arash Law can assist you with your first steps after a car accident.
Follow Through With All Treatment Recommendations From Your Providers
It is absolutely critical that you follow up on all recommendations from your medical providers. If the urgent care facility asks you to follow up with your primary care doctor, do it! If your primary care doctor recommends physical therapy, follow their advice. If your physical therapist recommends that you return for a few more sessions, follow their advice.
It is essential to be able to document that all your medical bills were due to recommendations from qualified medical providers. It is also essential to be able to demonstrate that you followed all their recommendations and did not make your own injuries worse by ignoring a doctor’s orders.
Insurance companies may question your injuries or the value of your claim if you don’t follow your treatment plan. They might argue that gaps in care contributed to your symptoms rather than the accident itself. Staying consistent with your medical recommendations can help support your claim and show how the crash affected you.
Be Prepared For A Lengthy Claims Process
Some car accident cases are simple and straightforward. If the insurance company agrees that their driver was at fault and makes a settlement offer that your attorney considers fair, it is possible to wrap up your car accident case within a matter of weeks. However, many cases get delayed for various reasons.
The insurance company may review the facts of the crash and suggest that you share some responsibility. They may also start with a lower offer based on their evaluation of the claim. In some cases, other legal issues, such as a potential vehicle defect, can make the process more complex.
All of these issues can delay your case by months. Some cases take years when they escalate to a trial. Be patient. If you are too quick to settle, you might miss out on the fair compensation that could be available for your injuries.
Contact Our Experienced Car Accident Lawyers In California
The experienced traffic accident lawyers at Arash Law are here to help California injury victims. You don’t have to spend hours searching online for a “car accident lawyer near me.” Our skilled injury attorneys have decades of experience. We have the resources and experience to handle a wide range of personal injury cases. Our legal team represents clients in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside, San Jose, San Diego, Sacramento, Sherman Oaks, and throughout California.
Call (888) 488-1391 or fill out our online form to schedule your free initial consultation. You may also complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form here to let us know about your situation. Seeking legal help from a car accident lawyer early can provide guidance and support in protecting your legal rights throughout the claims process.
