Getting into a car accident can be a confusing and disorienting experience. To protect your health and strengthen your personal injury claim, it’s crucial to seek expert guidance from an experienced car accident lawyer.
But how exactly do you go about achieving that aim? If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Encino — regardless of whether you were at fault, you should do your best to follow these steps.
If Possible, Get To Safety
In some cases, you may be unconscious, trapped, or injured so badly that you cannot move. However, if possible, you should move out of harm’s way.
For instance, if your car has been badly damaged and is in the middle of the highway, try to get out of it and onto a grassy median (or even onto the shoulder of the road). This might prevent further injury. If you can help others be safe without risking your own life, it’s a good idea to do this, too.
Call 911
If you’re involved in a car accident, it’s essential that you summon both the police and medical help. The police can put together an accident report that will be instrumental in determining fault and guiding the trajectory of your claim. First responders will be able to assess everyone involved and help them receive the appropriate medical care.
What if you don’t think you’ve been injured? It’s a good idea to summon medical help anyway. Doing so can help protect your health and preserve your chances of filing a successful claim.
Protecting Your Health
Some kinds of injuries can cause you to go into shock. If you’re in shock, suffer a head injury, or even just get a powerful adrenaline rush from an accident, you may not be able to tell that you’ve been injured. If you go home and the injury symptoms worsen, you may not be able to get medical help in time.
Similarly, some kinds of life-threatening injuries may not seem serious right away. To ensure you get the care you need, you should always have a medical professional examine you right after an accident. They can identify and treat those injuries before they worsen.
Protecting Your Future Claim
In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, you don’t have to decide whether you want to file a claim. However, it’s wise to do what you can to preserve your chances of success if you decide to file. One of the best ways to do this is by immediately summoning medical help.
If you leave the scene and decide to seek medical help later, it becomes very easy for the other side to argue that you were not badly injured in the first place. They also could reasonably claim that you suffered your injuries later.
For example, suppose that you drive away from the scene and are later treated for a traumatic brain injury. In this instance, the other driver’s attorney might point out that you could have gotten the injury after the accident but before you sought medical help.
Gather Information
If possible, gather the following information while you wait for emergency services to arrive:
- Names
- Phone numbers
- Driver’s license numbers
- License plates
- Vehicle identification numbers (VINs)
- Insurance information
- Contact information for potential witnesses
When getting the names of involved drivers, VINs and other important information, ask to see actual driver’s licenses, copies of vehicle registrations, etc. Some drivers may try to give you false information, so taking this additional step can help ensure you have the right information from the very start.
Of course, in some cases, you might be too injured to gather this information. Don’t worry — if a lawyer takes your case, they should be able to obtain these details later. In most cases, your legal team will conduct their investigation regardless. They may uncover CCTV footage, additional witnesses, and other information to strengthen your case.
Document The Scene
If you can, take as many photos of the accident scene as possible. Having visuals can be incredibly helpful for your legal team. If the case goes to court, photos and videos can corroborate your account of what happened.
Contact A Personal Injury Attorney
Many people believe that they should contact their insurance company as soon as possible after an accident. However, not everyone realizes that insurers are not on their side. They have one main goal: to pay out as little as possible on every claim.
As such, these companies often look for even tiny details that could discredit you. For example, even something as simple as saying “I think I’m okay” to a representative could later be used to argue that your injuries aren’t severe.
Instead, your first contact should be an experienced personal injury attorney. Your attorney will be able to talk to the insurance company for you.
Notify The California DMV
In California, you must report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days if anyone is injured or if vehicle damage exceeds $750. This might seem like a minor step, but failing to comply can have major consequences. If you don’t report an accident within the required timeframe, your license may be suspended.
The Right Attorney Matters
It’s easy to get carried away with worry after a car accident. What if you’re found at fault, your insurer denies your claim, or the other driver doesn’t have insurance?
However, when you take your time and choose the right car accident attorney, you can relax and focus on recovering from your injuries — your attorney will handle the rest. If you follow the steps above and entrust your case to a qualified personal injury attorney, you can increase your chances of a successful car accident claim and a full recovery.
