The bad news is that car accidents are more common than they should be. However, if you are injured in a car accident due to someone else acted recklessly or negligently, then there are steps you can take to recover compensation for your damages. Keep reading to learn about the five steps you should take after being involved in a car accident and then contact Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn at (310) 209-1600 for a free legal consultation.
- Get Medical Care
- Exchange Information with Other Involved Parties
- Gather Evidence
- Listen to the Insurance Adjuster but Do Not Take Their Word for Anything
- Call a Personal Injury Attorney
If you are seriously injured, then you know to head to the emergency room right away. However, if you feel that your injuries or minor, or you do not feel that you are injured at all, then you might assume that there is no reason to get medical care. This is false. There are some conditions, such as whiplash and concussions, that are not apparent for several days. Back injuries can take even longer. Make sure you get medical care to rule out any complications.
Regulations put out by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) require that when a driver is involved in a car accident, they must exchange vehicle and insurance information. If there is a police officer at the scene of the accident, then they should be working to make sure this happens. If the driver refuses to provide their information for any reason, just write down their license plate number and take a picture if you can.
Do not assume that anyone else is going to get the evidence you need. If it is safe to do so and you are not seriously injured, take a picture of the accident scene. Talk to any witnesses and get their contact information. Take pictures not just of vehicles and injuries, but of the scene too, such as any skid marks or broken glass. This can be very helpful if an accident reconstruction expert is needed.
After the accident, an insurance adjuster is likely to call you. Know that they are there to protect the interests of their company – not to be on your side. They will give you a number that is almost certainly going to be less than your case is worth. Be careful when you talk to them, do not admit that you were at fault, do not speculate about what happened, and do not agree to a recorded statement without having an attorney present.
While the insurance company has their insurance adjuster on their side, you have your personal injury attorney on your side. If you have been involved in a car accident and are not sure what to do, let us make it easy: contact Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn at (310) 209-1600 for a free legal consultation.
