What Do I Do After A Car Accident?

The safety of those involved in an accident is, of course, a main priority. The first step in ensuring safety is to call 911. While emergency medical personnel are en route take a few minutes to assess any personal injuries sustained by yourself and others. Try to remember all injuries immediately following the accident and make a written note or a mental note of such injuries so you can later use that information to inform medical personnel, your attorney or law firm, and the insurance company of the other party.

As you may know, life moves a little faster in the Los Angeles area. In addition, time will move much faster after a car accident and when you are exchanging information with another party or giving an accident report. You should remember to gather as much information as possible before the proper Los Angeles law enforcement authorities or the California Highway Patrol arrives on scene. This information includes the license plate of the vehicles involved in the accident and any other helpful information to identification, such as names, home addresses and driver’s license numbers. If you are unable to get this information from the other driver, then simply wait for the proper Los Angeles law enforcement authorities or the California Highway Patrol.

Remember to note the approximate time of the accident, the cross-streets or approximate location of the accident, and the number of persons involved in the accident. Getting this information early will help the accident report process go more smoothly and quicker as well as ensure that you relay accurate and complete information in the accident report.

Because accidents happen often in Los Angeles and because your vehicle is likely to be blocking traffic when an accident occurs, you may feel obligated to move your car off the road in order to keep traffic moving. Although this seems like it will be better for others, it is not better for you to just exchange information with the other driver or to move your vehicle. Wait for the proper Los Angeles law enforcement authorities and emergency medical personnel to arrive. This will ensure that future problems are not created for you and your lawyer in recovering money for your personal injuries and property damage. As an additional tip, even if your injuries seem minor at the time, it is always smart to have medical personnel dispatched to the scene so they can at least do a quick assessment of all injuries, including anything minor.

It is very important to give accurate and complete information to the paramedics and EMT’s. Recalling and reporting correct and accurate injury information can reduce future problems for you and ensure that your attorney can get you properly compensated for your personal injuries, property damage, and any pain and suffering damages. Taking thirty seconds to remember and organize the facts of the accident and all injuries to you and any passengers can be the difference between a very high insurance settlement and an average insurance settlement.

When talking to a police officer you will want to try to get them to side with your version of how the accident happened. Although they may side with you, they are only taking quick notes for a report that will be filed later, sometimes hours later. To make sure that the police officer includes information that is helpful to your case in the accident report, it is wise to take thirty seconds to recall and organize the facts of how the accident occurred before speaking. Information that can be helpful includes the time of the accident, the direction you were headed, the approximate speed at the time of impact, the main cause, and if the other party admitted fault. This approach will increase your ability to present organized information which will be easier to report than scrambled information.

Instructions to Clients on if Involved in A Car Accident

Published by: Jason Smith - Law Offices of Alon Darvish on November 7th, 2009 | Filed under Lawyer



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