What Should I Do at the Scene of a Car Accident?
According to the California Department of Insurance, what you should do at the scene of a car accident includes taking the following steps:
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Stop your car immediately
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Move your car to a safe location, if possible
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Call an ambulance if anyone is injured
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Call the police to complete a crash report
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Exchange information with the other drivers
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Get contact information from any witnesses
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Take pictures to supplement your evidence file
You may also want to call a personal injury law firm after a car accident caused by another party’s negligence. Whether you were involved in a rear-end crash or another type of collision, consulting a rear end collision lawyer in Los Angeles can help ensure the right steps are taken immediately to protect your claim.
Insist on a Complete Car Accident Report
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), a car accident report is mandatory if anyone in either vehicle is injured or killed or if more than $1,000 of property damage occurs.
Your car accident report may become a critical piece of evidence in your personal injury case. Its objective details may help substantiate your claim by documenting:
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Road and weather conditions at the time of the accident
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Contact information for the at-fault driver and witnesses
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Vehicle positioning and points of impact
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Whether alcohol, drugs, cell phone use, or other distractions contributed to the crash
Supplement Your Evidence File with Photos and Records
Whether you pursue compensation through an insurance settlement or a personal injury lawsuit, photos you take at the accident scene may help support your case. If possible, capture:
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Your car from multiple angles
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The at-fault driver’s car from multiple angles
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Traffic signs, speed limit signs, and other road data
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The overall accident scene, including any visible road defects
Complete your evidence file with additional documentation, such as medical records, repair bills, and replacement estimates. An experienced rear end collision lawyer in Los Angeles can guide you on which types of evidence carry the most weight in proving liability.
How a Lawyer Can Help After a Car Accident
If you decide to work with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, your legal team may be able to:
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Request residential, business, and traffic camera footage of the crash
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Hire accident reconstruction experts to analyze the collision
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Communicate with insurers on your behalf
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Build a strong case for maximum compensation
Get Medical Treatment After a Car Accident
If you did not leave the scene of the accident for emergency medical treatment, you should have your injuries diagnosed and treated by a doctor as soon as possible.
A doctor can help your personal injury case by creating evidence in your medical record. Physicians can then indicate that the car accident was the cause of your injuries. If you wait too long to receive treatment, the responsible party’s insurance company may try to argue that your injuries could have been caused by something else.
Identify the Cause of Your Accident
Getting to the bottom of your car accident is an important part of proving fault and negligence. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the five leading causes of car accidents include:
- Following too closely
- Not stopping at red lights
- Intoxication from alcohol or drugs
- Exceeding the speed limit
- Illegal left turns
A lawyer may be able to help you prove the cause of the accident that led to your injuries. Insisting on a car accident report, obtaining witness statements and contact information, and taking photos at the accident scene may help assign financial liability.
The Deadline to Sue in California
In California, the California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1 generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits. If you do not comply with this legal filing deadline, you might lose your ability to legally compel compensation from the at-fault driver.
If you are considering working with a lawyer on your case, you may want to contact them as soon as possible after your accident. Early involvement may also help ensure your legal team has time to comply with the legal deadlines in your case.
Contact the Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices Today
The Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices represents car accident victims in Los Angeles. We work on a contingency fee basis with no upfront payments required.
To speak to a member of our team about what you should do at the scene of a car accident, call the Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices today at 866-559-7223. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to Los Angeles car accident victims.