An accident on a California freeway or boulevard can leave victims with more than just worries over a dented car. With a serious injury, victims may suddenly have a stack of hospital bills on their plate.
They may also be dealing with a bad driver who doesn’t want to admit fault and an insurer that won’t accept liability.
After an accident, victims will need to build a strong case, backed by evidence. But the steps they forget to take can serve to hurt their chances at getting fair compensation.
With this in mind, the California car accident lawyers at Maison Law created this important list of actions victims can take to come out on top in any claims battle.
Taking the Right Steps to Win a Car Accident Claim
The safety and wellbeing of victims will always be the first priority after a car accident. You should assess your own condition after a crash, and, if possible, the condition of everyone else involved. Call 911, and if there are any injuries, request an immediate ambulance response.
Then, if you are left able to move around, and it’s safe to do so, the scene will be the best place to start as you build your case.
On the scene:
Collect evidence if you aren’t in any additional danger from traffic. Take photos of car damage from different angles. Show any markings left on the road, and highlight debris. Get pictures of any injuries you have or damaged clothing.
Work with paramedics:
Alert EMTs to every pain and wound you have. Allow them to take you to the ER if necessary. With a severe injury, you could be rushed to the closest California Trauma Center for care. If you must leave the scene of your crash, ask someone with you, or even a helpful witness, to collect some details and photos for you.
Work with the investigating officer:
Take notes right after an accident so that you don’t forget key factors in your collision. Give the California Highway Patrol (CHP) or local police the full story on the important factors you noticed before an accident. They will create an accident report that will often serve as powerful evidence in your favor. Maison Law has a page with instructions on getting a copy of your accident report from the CHP. If your accident was investigated by the local police department, you’d have to contact the department for a copy of your report.
Get witness contact information:
Talk to witnesses to find out what they saw. Jot down notes and find out how your lawyer can reach them later for testimony.
Get driver information:
If an officer doesn’t provide it to you, make sure to get driver’s license and car insurance policy numbers of the other motorists involved. If your accident involved a delivery driver or a truck driver, it’s also important to take photos of signage that shows their employer. You should ask for employee numbers, too, if possible.
Alert your own insurer:
Call your car insurance agent the same day if possible. Alert them to what happened, even if you weren’t at fault.
See your own doctor:
Get checked out by your family doctor, even if you have already been to the emergency room. You can feel new pain a day or two after a collision, indicating an injury you didn’t know you had. Shock can mask injuries on the day of the incident. Allow your physician to examine all pain. Get injuries documented. Follow your doctor’s orders.
Go over your case with a car accident lawyer if you are injured:
If your accident only involves very minor scrapes and bruises, or just vehicle damage, you may be able to handle your accident yourself. But if you suffer a more serious injury, like a broken arm or a Traumatic Brain Injury, you may require the help of a California car accident lawyer. Serious injuries bring higher medical bills, and the increased cost sends insurance adjusters looking for ways to bail on you. An experienced attorney would fully investigate what happened and have evidence ready.
Your lawyer provides these benefits and safeguards:
- Protects you if an insurer tries to blame you for an accident you didn’t cause
- Takes action if an insurer tries to discount your settlement by downplaying your injuries
- Secures important documents for you, such as an accident report, so you can focus on healing
- Files your claim and enters aggressive negotiations with giant car insurance companies
- Often earns you much more than you could by handling your claim yourself
We have an information page on the best ways to choose a skilled and reputable California lawyer for your case.
Contact a California Car Accident Attorney
Contact Maison Law for a free, no-obligation case consultation if you are still unsure if you have a case or not.
If you need our help, we’ll work on a contingency basis for you. It means no worries if you don’t have the money to pay a lawyer right after an accident. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our pay comes out of a settlement check, and a car insurance provider must write for you.
