WHAT TO DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

SACRAMENTO CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Car accidents are always unexpected. No one gets up in the morning planning to get into an automobile accident.

Being prepared and knowing what to do after a car collision happens is very important, as well as what not to do. If you were injured in a car accident, contact a Sacramento car accident attorney at our office today. We offer free consultation and there is never a fee unless we win your case.

Here are some things that you should do if you are involved in car accident:

• Auto accidents can are can be scary. And because they can be terrifying the first important thing to do – stay calm. Do no get out of the car into the middle of the road to scream at the other driver, even if that other driver is the one that caused the car crash.
• Second, if you have passengers in your car, make sure that they are ok and not in the need for immediate medical attention. After you do that, make sure it is safe to get out of your car and you can approach the other vehicle to make sure that no one in that car need an ambulance. Be polite and courteous to the other driver and his or her passengers. This accident is just as unexpected and just as upsetting for them as it is for you.
• Third, if your vehicle is safe to drive and it is safe to do so, pull the car to the side of the road. That way the vehicles behind you can proceed forward without the accident blocking their path and creating traffic. Make sure you tell the other driver what you are doing and he or she does not thing you trying to flee the scene of the accident. Also, a lot of people believe that you must wait until the police arrive, but most of the time the first thing the officer will tell you when he arrives to the scene of the collision is to move your vehicles to the shoulder. If you have flares in the trunk of your car or a warning sign (usually a yellow or an orange triangle), use it.

After the vehicles are safely moved to the side of the road, call the 911 and report the accident to the police and wait for them to arrive. Often the 911 dispatcher will ask if there are any major injuries or if ambulance is needed. If there are no major injuries, and the ambulance is not needed the dispatcher will tell you to just exchange insurance information and be on your way.

If that happens, make sure you take all the necessary information from the other driver that is required to make an insurance claim. You will need the following:

• Vehicle Information – Year, make and model of the vehicle involved, and owner information, if the owner of the car is not the driver
• Individual Information – California driver’s license number, name, address, and phone number of the driver
• Insurance information – Insurance Company name, policy number.

However, if the accident is a major one or there is serious damage to the vehicles, the police officer will come out to expect the scene and to take statements of the individuals involved in the car crash, their passengers (if any), and witnesses.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, contact a Sacramento car accident attorney at The Choyce Law Firm today.

Make sure you know which government agency is taking the police report. It can be California Highway Patrol (CHP), local police, or local sheriff. Police reports are usually completed and ready to be picked up within 10 days. Some entities, like CHP, will have the first page of the police report ready the following day. The first page will include the names and contact information of parties and vehicles involved as well as the insurance information required to make an insurance claim. If you are wondering if there is a fee, the answer is Yes. A copy of the police reports will cost you $10.00, though if you are picking up a first page of the traffic collision report, it is free.

Next, document the damage to your vehicle. Take pictures of all the damage to your car. Take more picture than you need. The idea is, you would rather have those picture and not need them, then need them and not have them.

Also, if you are injured or have pain, get treated. This is one of the most important things you can do. The best thing is to go to the emergency room (ER) of the local hospital. ER doctors and medical staff will take x-rays and examine you to make sure you do not have any life threatening injuries.

This completes two objectives:

• First, it gets you treated.
• Second, it documents the fact that you are injured.

Insurance companies are not in the business of paying out money. Your friends and relatives that see you every day in pain will believe you when you tell them that you are injured and cannot work. The insurance companies will say that you did not see a doctor, and because you did not do that you are not injured.

After you are release from the ER, make an appointment with your primary care physician or a family doctor to follow up and continue with your treatment. ER rooms only treat serious injuries like fractures and internal bleeding. Family doctors, primary care physician or chiropractors are the ones that will do all the follow up and get you better. They will order physical therapy, occupational therapy or chiropractic care if you need it. They will prescribe pain medications. They will refer you to specialists if you need it.

Finally, after you are home from the emergency room, call a Sacramento car accident attorney. Having a personal injury attorney represent you in a case eliminates the headache of dealing with insurance companies and increases your value in monetary recovery. Personal injury lawyers know what they are doing, they’ve done it before. As mentioned above, insurance companies are not in the business of paying out money. They will try to take advantage of you, and pay out as little as possible. Your accident lawyer will obtain everything you need to secure a settlement for your. Having a Sacramento auto accident lawyer on your side guarantees the recovery that you deserve.

To summarize, let us review the things that you need to do after a car accident:

1. Stay Calm
2. Make sure everyone in your car is OK and not in need of emergency medical treatment
3. Pull the car to the side of the road away from traffic
4. Call 911 to report the car accident
5. Get information from the other driver about their vehicle and insurance information and their contact information
6. Document damage to the car
7. Get medical treatment, and finally
8. Call a Sacramento car accident attorney.

These steps will make the experience of going through this part in your life a lot easier. You will be prepared for what you need to do next.

Call Sacramento car accident attorney For Help

If you have been injured in a car, truck or motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another, regardless of the nature of the underlying accident, it is important to contact an experienced Sacramento car accident attorney at The Choyce Law Firm to discuss your legal options. We have offices in Sacramento & Fairfield, CA for your convenience and have the resources and expertise to aggressively litigate your case in court, fighting to get you just compensation for your injury.
 
Call (916) 306-0636 today for a free consultation with our Sacramento car accident attorney regarding your auto accident injury case.