If you and the other person involved in the automobile accident are not in need of immediate medical attention, move to a safe spot away from traffic. Once you have moved to a safe spot, you’ll need to gather some information. Here is a list of information you need to get before leaving the scene of the accident:
- Name, phone number, and address of all parties involved
- Insurance carrier and policy number of all parties involved
- Driver’s license number and address of all drivers and passengers
- Vehicle license plate number(s)
- Model, make, and year of all automobiles involved in the accident
- Location and date of the accident
- Time the collision occurred
- Eyewitness names and phone numbers
Should I Call the Police or Law Enforcement?
Yes. Even if the accident seems to be minor, the auto personal injury attorneys at Adamson Ahdoot LLP, highly recommend you notify the proper authorities. Once the police arrive, you’ll most likely need to give a statement. It’s important you don’t admit fault before speaking to an attorney. After you give a statement, obtain a copy of the police report, or make sure to write down the incident number, so you can obtain a copy later.
Write Down as Much Information as You Can About the Car Accident as Soon as Possible
Immediately following the accident, you should write down:
- How the accident happened
- Who was involved in the accident?
- Eyewitness statements and contact info
- Date, time, and location of the accident
- Major intersections where the accident happened
- What the weather was like at the time of the accident (was it raining or snowing?)
- Broken or damaged street signs or signals
- Road conditions
- Any other details you remember about the accident
Write down, even, what you may think are minor details. In some cases, even the smallest facts may provide clarity on how or why the accident occurred and, ultimately, prove you were not at fault.
I Think I May Be Partly To Blame for the Accident…Should I Admit Fault?
No. Even if you think you were partly to blame for the accident, it’s imperative you don’t admit fault.
In some cases, if the driver who was hit engaged in risky behavior like suddenly slamming on the brakes or reversing, the aggressive driver may be found at fault. However, accidents aren’t always as clear-cut as they may seem, and determining fault may be challenging based on the circumstances of an accident, which is why it’s important you don’t admit fault.
It’s also important you don’t admit fault while speaking to an insurance agent. Before talking to anyone about the accident, talk to one of our skilled vehicle accident attorneys. If you admit fault, you and your insurance company may be held financially liable for the damages related to the automobile accident.
If you refused medical attention at the accident scene, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Many different types of injury symptoms don’t present themself immediately and may be difficult to detect right after an auto accident. If you wait to get medical attention, your injury may go undetected and untreated, which could lead to more complications in the future.
Getting prompt medical treatment not only ensures proper injury treatment but also shows you were proactive in getting the right care.
Victims who wait to get medical treatment often are viewed as “someone who doesn’t care” by opposing insurance companies. Keep in mind: insurance companies are looking for any reason they can to prevent paying victims what they deserve. Most insurance companies are protecting their bottom line and will use any tactic they can to get out of paying victims compensation for accident-related damages.
If you can, yes! We highly recommend taking as many photos of the accident scene as possible. You should take photos of the damage to your automobile and of the damage done to other vehicles. Don’t forget to take pictures of the inside of your car if there’s damage inside as well. Take pictures at different angles and viewpoints to get a well-rounded view of the damage and scene.
If you’ve snapped photos of the accident scene, download them to your computer and/or hard drive too.
Should I Talk to Eyewitnesses?
All too often, automobile accidents end up being a “she said, he said” situation. If there are any bystanders who saw the accident happen, ask them if they can wait till police arrive so a statement can be recorded. If the eyewitnesses are unable to stay, ask them for their names and contact information so you or your attorney can get in touch with them. If you notice any cameras in the area, take a picture of the camera and note the location. If the automobile accident was caught on camera, it can help prove who was at fault.
How Soon Should I Call My Insurance Company?
There’s a lot to think about after being involved in an automobile accident and calling your insurance company may not be at the forefront of your mind. However, it’s important you notify your insurance company of the accident “within a reasonable amount of time.”
Most insurance companies don’t have a time stipulation for reporting an accident, but most providers do require you to report the collision to police within 24 hours of the accident occurring. Once the accident has been reported, you’ll want to follow up with your insurance provider to ensure your ability to collect compensation isn’t put at risk.
Please keep in mind: if you speak to your insurance agent or the other driver’s insurance provider before talking to one of our Los Angeles automobile collision attorneys, we recommend you follow these tips:
Allow the call to be recorded. Unfortunately, not allowing the insurance agent to record the call (no matter what your reason may be) implies you have something to hide and may put your claim at risk. Keep in mind: insurance companies are looking for any reason to not pay you damages. Don’t give them any reasons to deny you help.
Don’t take the blame for the accident. Even if you think you were at fault or partly to blame, there may be mitigating factors that show fault elsewhere.
Don’t minimize your health status or injuries. Although your injuries may not seem major now, some injuries like soft tissue damage take weeks to develop and can result in chronic pain and other long-term conditions. Avoid saying “I’m fine” or “I’m not hurt” when speaking with insurance agents.
Should I Accept the Other Driver’s Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer?
No. You should not accept the other driver’s insurance company’s initial settlement offer. As mentioned above, insurance companies are looking to pay you as little as possible for injury expenses. If you accept the initial offer from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you won’t be able to get money for any other additional injury expenses.
At Adamson Ahdoot LLP, we’ve seen victims left burdened by injury expenses because they accepted a low settlement offer. Don’t undervalue the extent of your injury costs! Some injuries require months and even years of treatment and those costs should not be overlooked when determining the value of your claim.
Our automobile accident attorneys will consider your past, current, and future injury damages when determining the value of your claim. We aren’t afraid to ask for what you deserve and will fight for your legal right to maximum compensation.
Do I Need To Hire an Attorney?
If you were seriously injured in an automobile accident and you believe you were not at fault for the accident happening, we highly recommend you talk to one of the skilled automobile accident attorneys at Adamson Ahdoot LLP as soon as possible. Upon meeting, we will discuss your case in detail and gather as much information as possible to determine if you’re eligible to file a lawsuit.
If you can file a lawsuit, we highly recommend you hire a qualified personal injury lawyer to represent you. Studies have shown, victims who hire skilled legal representation recover up to 25% more compensation than victims who try to represent themselves or hire unqualified help.
Our personal injury attorneys are established in the legal community and have a wide network of experts to consult with when calculating claim values and relying on expert testimony. Using our vast resources, we’re able to build powerful cases not easily dismissed by opposing insurance companies.
Do I Need To Bring Anything to My Consultation With an Adamson Ahdoot Llp Attorney?
If you were able to collect information at the accident scene (i.e., the other driver’s contact and insurance information), bring this to the consultation. Also, bring a copy of your medical records and a copy of the police report if possible. There’s no need to worry if you don’t have this information. We understand it may not always be possible to provide this information, especially if you suffered a severe injury.
At Adamson Ahdoot LLP, we can help you with the entire legal process, including the gathering of accident information. If you would like to know how we can help after suffering an injury in an automobile accident, submit a contact form today and a friendly team member will contact you to arrange a time to discuss your case.
Is It Expensive To Hire an Attorney?
At Adamson Ahdoot LLP, our automobile accident attorneys take every case on a contingent basis. Simply put, we won’t ask you for a dime until we have successfully settled your case.
Don’t make the mistake of trying to settle a claim on your own. Statistics show that victims with quality representation recover more money than victims who represent themselves or work with unqualified legal help.
When you schedule a free case consultation, we will discuss how much money your case may be worth and what our legal fees are. If you decide to move forward with filing a claim, we’ll take care of any upfront costs so you can focus on your recovery.
What Types of Damages Can I Collect in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
No two cases are the same and neither are the types of damages awarded, however, some of the more common types of damages awarded in a personal injury lawsuit include:
- Lost wages from taking time off work
- Medical bills
- Physical suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Disability and disfigurement
- Punitive damages
- Other types of damages
Get Help Today!
Interested in finding out more about your case? Don’t hesitate to call us today at (800) 310-1606. Available 24/7, our team is ready to assist you with a free consultation. In addition, we have bilingual attorneys, to better assist you in both English and Spanish.