6 Steps You Must Take After a Car Accident
One moment, you were on your way to work, your child’s soccer game, or the mall. The next, your car is a lump of crumpled metal and your heart feels like it’s going to beat out of your chest. A car accident, no matter how minor, can be physically and mentally traumatic. With these steps and the help of an experienced attorney, you can protect your right to seek compensation.
Why choose DeWitt Algorri & Algorri? Our long list of settlements and courtroom successes shows how committed we are to our clients. In one case, our team secured $19 million in compensation for an accident victim who was left with a long list of serious injuries after being rear ended at 60 miles per hour. In another, our client received $1.5 million even after the insurance company tried to argue that the car accident had minimal impact. Ready to find out how we can help you? Call 855-WINNING (946-6464) to schedule a consultation now.
Report the Accident – After the accident, check yourself and everyone in your vehicle for any obvious injuries. You’ll then want to contact the police and notify them of the accident. Depending on where you are, you may need to call the city police department, CHP or the Sheriff’s Office. Tell them about any injuries you observed so they can send help if necessary. Depending on the severity of the accident, you can contact the emergency line or the non-emergency line.
Gather Time-Sensitive Evidence – Evidence doesn’t last forever, especially in a car accident. You’ll likely have to move your vehicle quickly to avoid impeding traffic, so take pictures and video footage of the crash scene right away. If anyone stops to offer help or because they witnessed the accident, get their contact information right away.
Tell Your Side to the Police – When the police arrive, they will assess the accident and talk to both drivers. Make sure you get a chance to tell them what happened. They can’t put anything they don’t know about in the accident report, so be assertive. The other driver may be demanding or aggressive, but don’t let them control the narrative. If necessary, you can speak to the police away from the other driver so you feel comfortable talking. Stick to the facts of the accident and provide any relevant information you have.
Exchange Contact Information – Before you leave the scene of the accident, it is important to get the other party’s insurance and contact information. They should also get yours to help the insurance companies investigate the claim. Usually, this can be done with minimal trouble. If the other driver is angry or out of control, you may want to exchange information with the help of a police officer.
Get Checked Out by a Doctor – This is perhaps one of the most important parts of this entire process. Too many people avoid going to the doctor because they are afraid of expensive medical bills or unnecessary treatment. However, you stand to lose a lot more if you end up with a life-threatening injury. Some injuries do not show up until hours or days later, at which point it is much harder to link the injury to the accident and get the care you need.
Even if you think you’re fine and uninjured, get checked out at an urgent care facility, hospital, or general practitioner’s office. If you get any paperwork or medical reports, save them and make copies. They may be useful when you seek compensation.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney ASAP
It’s time to lay the groundwork for a personal injury claim and talk to a car accident lawyer. Our attorneys have over 4 decades of collective experience serving Pasadena, Orange County and the Inland Empire. The insurance companies will begin their investigations right away, and you need someone to advocate for you. Having an attorney before the other party’s attorneys contacts you is crucial. Anything you tell the other driver’s insurance adjuster can only hurt your claim and reduce whatever settlement they are willing to offer.
Your attorney will investigate the accident, determine the value of your injuries, and push for fair compensation on your behalf. As a result, you spend less time stressing over your accident and more time focused on your recovery.
Know that your case is in good hands when you choose DeWitt Algorri & Algorri. Our testimonials highlight our passion for client satisfaction. To set up a meeting, call us at 855-WINNING (946-6464) or contact us online.
Mark Algorri has successfully represented individuals and their families in matters involving serious and catastrophic injuries, insurance claims denials, and wrongful deaths, achieving a success rate of 99 percent for our clients.
