What should you do if you are in the middle of a car accident?
When this happens, injuries can be serious both physical and emotional, however, despite how emotionally upset you are moments after a traffic accident there are important things you should do while at the scene of the accident. Here are some of the actions you will need to take after an accident is involved, if possible. Keep this information handy, if possible print this useful information and keep this data stored in your car.
No matter how nervous you are at the time, breathe and stay at the scene, unless you have been seriously injured and need to be treated in an emergency. Otherwise, it is important that you never leave the scene of the accident until it is appropriate to do so. If you leave, particularly when someone has suffered injuries or died, you can face serious criminal penalties for being a hit-and-run driver.
Make sure all drivers and passengers involved in the accident are alive and in good condition before assessing property damage. Get medical care for anyone who needs it. If a person is unconscious or has neck or back pain, remember not to move anyone until qualified medical help arrives, unless an imminent danger requires the victim’s transfer.
Call the Police If after the accident the consequences ended in significant property damage, physical injury, or death, you are required to call the police. It is helpful in situations where police officers arrive at the scene to write down the name and identification number of officers who answered the emergency call.
It is also advisable to write down the names, numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and basic insurance company information of all drivers involved. If there are passengers and witnesses, also get their names, numbers, and addresses. When interacting with the other drivers and people involved in the accident, be cordial and cooperative.
What you should not do is apologize for anything while you are at the scene as you could be admitting guilt and admitting that you have legal responsibility for what happened. Immediately after an accident, it is difficult to establish who was at fault or who is most at fault. Therefore, try not to admit guilt unintentionally or unnecessarily.
Be careful when discussing the incident Don’t talk to anyone about the accident other than your lawyer, your insurance company, and the police. Do not talk to a representative of another insurance company without the knowledge of your attorney or insurer.
Inform your insurance company that you have been in an accident immediately after it has occurred and do not delay in explaining all the facts in as much detail and accuracy as possible. Cooperate with them and tell them the truth about everything that happened and the condition of their injuries. Explain the facts clearly. If the insurance company finds out that you have lied to them about anything related to the accident, you could get into a serious bind, including a possible denial of accident coverage.
Keep track of your medical treatment. Keep a detailed account of the treatments or medications you receive. Also, ask for copies of all medical reports and bills as these will help you prove your total medical expenses when the case has progressed.
Keep track of how your injuries have affected your daily life. Include missed work days, write down any activities in your routine that you can’t do because of injuries, and describe how injuries have affected your family life.
Take pictures of any damage to your vehicle as soon as possible after the accident. Photos help your insurance company determine how much you should receive in compensation for your car damage and can also help you in court to contrast and show the true extent of the damages sustained during the accident.
If
you have suffered a personal injury from someone else’s negligent or intentional vehicle accident, California law guarantees that you are entitled to receive compensation that covers all damages, including: pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost income.
You have the right to represent yourself in court. However, in most cases, hiring a lawyer is usually an accurate path to a full recovery. Why? Because well-established insurance companies and corporations have employees and attorneys who are going to try to deny liability or minimize the corresponding payments.
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