It can be hard to know what to do after a car accident. But the things you do are important for your health, safety, and compensation. It is important to make sure these items are handled early in the case, as failure to do so can result in lower compensation or otherwise affect your claim. The experienced San Bernardino car accident lawyers at LA Century Law provide a car accident checklist to help guide you.
About our auto accident checklist
Each case is different. In addition to the things on this checklist, there may be additional steps to take in your case. Things may not happen in this order.
Checklist: What To Do After a Car Accident
Ensure everyone’s safety
The scene of a car accident can be an ongoing dangerous situation. Park your vehicle away from traffic. Watch for traffic as you exit your vehicle. There may be dangers like fire hazards, live electric wires, bodies of water, and elevated surfaces that create a risk of falling. Debris on the road may create hazards for other vehicles.
Evaluate the scene and take the necessary steps to ensure everyone’s safety.
Call 911
If there are injuries or existing dangers, a car accident is an emergency. Call 911. Communicate your location. Tell dispatchers that people are or may be injured. Request a Traffic Collision Report. The officer will complete a report and identify all parties involved, including their statement. The officer will also draft their opinion as to who is at fault.
Dispatchers may give you instructions for first aid until help arrives. Prioritize safety and treat the injured until first responders can take over.
Exchange information with the other driver
Unless you’re incapacitated, all drivers involved in an accident must provide information to other drivers. Obtain the following information:
- Driver’s name
- Driver’s address
- Vehicle identification number
- Owner of the vehicle (to whom the vehicle is registered)
- Address of vehicle owner
- Insurance information
- Take Photos and Document the Scene
If you’re able, take photos and document the accident scene, or have someone else if you are not in a position to do so. Take photos of the following:
- Vehicles
- The larger accident scene
- Your injuries
- Debris on the road
- People you see
- The weather
- Traffic lights and signs
- Road conditions
- Damaged property and roadside fixtures
- Damaged personal property
Take time to observe the scene. What is the weather? What is the traffic flow? Do you see debris? Do other passengers appear injured, or is their behavior unusual?
Look for nearby businesses or intersection posts that may have surveillance cameras.
Get names and contact information for anyone in a vehicle. Get contact information for witnesses, and ask them what they observed. Make notes of your conversations with witnesses.
Save the clothing you were wearing and damaged personal property items from your vehicle.
Seek immediate medical attention
Medical attention is important for your well-being and your legal claim. Symptoms of injury can be delayed after an accident.
There may be things that you can do to prevent additional harm.
By receiving emergency or urgent medical care, you may also avoid a dispute about the cause of your injuries.
This care document describes your injuries, their severity, and your recovery. This record starts to create your compensation claim.
Notify your insurance company
Tell your insurance company that you were in an accident. Do NOT discuss your injuries with them. It is best to simply state you were hurt if you were injured without details. Any information provided to the insurance company can and will be used against you. You’ll need time to determine the full extent of injuries and damages. It’s best to report the accident to the insurance right away.
Most insurance companies have a way to report the accident online. Provide the basic information, including when and where the accident occurred. Give the name of the other driver and their insurance information.
At the end of the call, the insurance company should assign a claim number, which you will want to keep handy for your claim.
Obtain a copy of the police report
If law enforcement investigates the accident, they will prepare a collision report. Obtain a copy of the collision report when it is available. To get a copy of the police report, determine which police agency investigated the accident. It might be the California Highway Patrol or a local police agency like the Los Angeles Police. Follow the instructions to request a copy of the accident report.
Review the report for accuracy. It might contain helpful insight about factors that contributed to the accident. While the officer’s opinion is often correct, the police report isn’t the final say about fault or car accident compensation. Accident reports are not admissible in court.
You must make a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1). You have 10 days to file the SR-1 form.
Track all medical treatment and expenses
Continue to receive medical attention and follow medical advice as you recover. Your attorney can help you journal your treatment, pain, limitations, and progress to build evidence for your claim.
You may incur losses, such as vehicle and personal property damage. In addition, you may have lost income, expenses for personal care, and family and household costs. Track your expenses. Save receipts and bills.
Learn About the Law
In California, car accident victims may receive compensation. California is an at-fault state for car accidents. Regardless of the severity of injuries, you may receive compensation for damages if someone else acted negligently and caused an accident.
With California’s pure comparative negligence system, compensation may be awarded even when fault is shared. There is no cutoff or threshold where compensation is no longer awarded. But the allocation of fault is important for awarding compensation.
An attorney can help you work through your California car accident checklist. They can explain how the law may apply to your claim and what your case may be worth.
Investigate Insurance
Most car accident claims are settled through insurance policies. Review your insurance policy to see what’s covered and the policy limits.
Pursue Your Compensation
To receive compensation for a car accident, you must pursue your case. An attorney can represent you, complete your checklist, and seek compensation.
Contact an Experienced San Bernardino Car Accident Lawyer
At LA Century Law, we help people with car accident checklists. We can assist with a custom case plan for your situation.
We’ve collected millions for our clients. Call or message us now.