Car accidents are something nobody wants to happen, but unfortunately, 33,654 fatal motor vehicle accidents occur in the United States. In a busy state like California, the numbers are also among the highest. When you get involved in a motor vehicle accident, you should follow a few things immediately after the crash. Getting legal help from local car accident lawyers is one of them. This article explains the five things you must do.
Ensure Everyone’s Safety
Once you bump into another car or any object, the first thing you need to do is take everyone, including yourself, out of danger. But first, you must ensure your safety. So take yourself out of the car even when there are minor passengers in your car. This is a survival tactic, and that’s why you’ll hear airlines reiterating to “Put Your Oxygen Mask First”.
Only when you’re out of danger can you help anyone else. Once you’re out of your car, you can take other passengers out one by one. Also, ensure the safety of other car drivers and passengers involved in the crash.
Call 911 Emergency
Irrespective of whether or not the crash was fatal, you should dial 911 and request the police to arrive at the scene as soon as possible. This is more important if the crash was fatal and someone was injured seriously. If that’s the case, you should also request a paramedic team.
But from an insurance and litigation standpoint, reporting the accident to local law enforcement agencies is crucial. The reports from the agencies will come into the picture when filing for claims and settling disputes. Therefore, if the police can’t arrive at the spot for one reason or another, you can visit the nearest station and report the accident case.
Inform Your Insurance Provider
All motorists on the US roads are required to have basic personal auto insurance to show financial responsibility. In California, you must have California’s Low-Cost Automobile Insurance Program coverage.
Depending on who was at fault, your company will cover the costs of damage. The insurance company will either arrive at the scene and inspect the damage for themselves or ask you for details over the phone. You should comply accordingly.
Call a Local Car Accident Attorney
Claiming coverage for your car damage is not straightforward. Things complicate even more when the other driver was at fault, and hence his/her carrier needs to provide the coverage. There is a legal procedure to follow, so it’s better to have qualified personal injury attorneys by your side to handle your case. Accidents can be traumatic, and they can ease some workload off of you so that you can have adequate time to recover.
Take Note of the Accident Scene
If the situation permits, you should take notes of the scene on paper or your phone. Note down every vital detail that you think will be helpful. Collect basic information like the name, address, phone number, and email ID of everyone involved in the crash. If there are witnesses or you see CCTV cameras installed, you can note down that information.
It’s always important to follow the advice of car accident lawyers when proceeding with the case. If they ask you to limit conversation with anyone or the other drivers, you should follow them accordingly. Depending on the level of damage, the case can go longer.
