BLLG LAW

WHAT SHOULD I DO RIGHT AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

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• Stop your car and turn off your car’s ignition, no matter how slight the accident

 

• Keep calm and stay in your car until it is safe to get out

 

• Call the police immediately (or 911) to report any car accident especially those resulting in personal injuries.  Be aware that some police agencies may not respond if the parties only sustained minimal or no injuries

 

• If you or your passenger(s) sustained serious injuries call 911 immediately and tell the operator that an ambulance is required for emergency treatment.  And/or let he police know of the serious nature of your injuries

 

• Do not make any admissions of fault

 

• If you can (in your own time on the same day) note facts, your opinions, or speculations of how the accident occurred on paper or digitally.  This is a good idea because you may forget important facts of the accident the next day if you don’t

 

• Take pictures or videos.  Almost everyone has a cell phone camera these days.  Use it!  Take as much pictures as you can of the accident scene, the cars, damages, injuries, and anything related.  Don't question what is relevant or not at this time, just take as much pictures as you can to record the event.  An experienced personal injury attorney will determine which photographs will be useful in your case

 

• If there is just one thing you should do after a car accident, get the license plate numbers of all cars involved (easiest way is to just take pictures of them).  An experienced personal injury attorney can obtain the car owner’s information and any insurance coverage that covers the car

 

• If you can do it safely, warn oncoming traffic of the accident, especially to avoid subsequent accidents

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• ​If you are considering hiring a personal injury attorney for your injuries, contact an experienced personal injury attorney prior to contacting the insurance companies (even yours) and/or parties involved

 

WHAT TYPES OF INFORMATION SHOULD I OBTAIN FROM THE OTHER DRIVER(S)?

 

• Other car’s license plate number or VIN number.  (Most people think to get the other driver’s license number, however, if there is only one type of information you should get after a car accident is the other car’s license plate number or VIN number.  If there are multiple cars, get all the license plate numbers or VIN numbers.  Easiest way is to take out your smartphone and take pictures).  VIN numbers are usually located in the driver’s side corner of the dashboard where it meets the windshield

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•  Other driver's name (take pictures if you can)

 

• Other driver’s license number (take pictures if you can)

 

• Other driver’s current address

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• Other driver’s telephone number or email

 

• Other car’s make/model/year (take pictures if you can)

 

• Other car’s damages (take pictures if you can).  (If you can, take pictures of the entire car for prior or unrelated damages)

 

• Other driver’s insurance company and policy number (take pictures if you can)

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• Government agency information. (If there are police and/or fire department/ambulance at the scene, make sure to get their information.  Police usually provide an accident report card with their contact information.  If you were transported by fire department/ambulance, they will provide their information to you)

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SHOULD I TAKE PICTURES AND/OR VIDEO?

 

• Yes!  Take pictures of the other car's license plate, damage, and scene of the accident.  If you have any visible injuries, take pictures of that as well. Take a reasonable number of pictures if you can do so safely

 

WHAT ABOUT WITNESSES?

 

• If you find any potential witnesses to your accident, tell them their assistance will be greatly appreciated and obtain the following information. More witnesses in support of your case, the better for your case

 

• Get the witness' name

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• Get the witness' telephone numbers

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• Get the witness' address

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• Get the witness' email address

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WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I GET HOME?

 

• As soon as possible, record the details of the accident.  Usually, after a car accident most people are dazed, confused, and or shocked.  Therefore, once you calm down, write down as much details of how the accident occurred and your injuries before you forget important facts

 

HOW WILL YOU HELP ME WITH MY CAR ACCIDENT CASE?

 

• When you contact us, we will provide you with a FREE CONSULTATION. Usually, we can do this by a quick telephone call or email.  By the way, we will make every attempt to respond to calls and emails within 24 to 48 hours.  If we think you have a case, we can email or fax you the necessary documents to start your case or we can schedule an in-person appointment. Once you hire our firm, we will discuss all the damages that you are entitled to recover, including pain and suffering, loss of wages, and property damages. Then, we can discuss the best way to proceed in recovering compensation for you, whether by settlement or litigation

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5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE A LAWYER FOR A CAR INJURY ACCIDENT

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• Insurance companies don't want to pay you a fair share for your injuries and loss. Insurance companies are in the business to make money, not give it away.  Don't mistake their niceness on the telephone for fairness. Insurance companies are not on your side when it comes to accidents and losses

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• Insurance companies don't want to help you. They will low ball you and work against you at every point of your case. Have you ever experienced the other driver's insurance company calling you right after an accident for a recorded statement? They aggressively ask you numerous vague and over broad questions, then use your responses against you later when its suits them. We strongly recommend that you have legal representation prior to giving your statement to an insurance company, even your own

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• Insurance companies don't respect you. They will make every effort to use the law to their advantage only. For example, they may tell you that you must repair your car at "their" preferred  body shop. That is a lie. In California, you have the right to repair your car at "your" preferred body shop.  When an experienced personal injury attorney is representing you, insurance companies limit their game play to a minimum

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• Insurances companies will often times offer more money for cases involving an attorney than what they would have offered without one

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• An experienced personal injury attorney will handle your case from start to finish, reducing or eliminating the stress and anxiety typically experienced after an accident of any type. The emotional freedom may offer you luxury of getting back on your feet that much sooner and smoother.  And, best of all you don't have to pay for attorney's fees until your case is won