No one likes to think about what would happen if they were in a car accident. With literally millions of vehicles being involved in crashes each and every year across the country, the topic is one that every driver should consider at some point or another.
It is important to know what you would do in the event of an accident. Even if you are the most careful driver in the world, there is still the chance that another, less careful driver will cause an accident that involves you and your vehicle. Furthermore, there are a number of accidents each year that are just that: accidents.
The Steps to Take After a Car Accident
One of the first things you should do is contact a car accident attorney. If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Los Angeles, the experienced attorneys at the Vaziri Law Group can help you secure favorable outcomes regardless of the type of car accident. While the specific actions you take will depend on the type and severity of accident, you will most likely need to at least do the following:
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Check for Injuries
The first and most important thing that you will need to do immediately following a car accident is check for injuries. Regardless of how the accident took place, you need to make sure that no one in your car or any other car involved was hurt in the collision.
If there are serious injuries, it is vital that you call for emergency medical help right away. Even if there is only a chance that someone was seriously hurt, it is still a good idea to call for an ambulance. You might also find it necessary to hire a car accident lawyer if you were injured in a crash.
If you do not feel you need to have an ambulance, you should at least head to AFC urgent care to get looked over by a professional. Many injuries only come to light months later.
There are many car accidents that are more minor in nature and don’t result in injuries at all. If you are able to confidently say that no one is hurt, then you should then get in touch with the proper authorities next.
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Call the Police
Once you are sure that no one is hurt and you have pulled your car and any passengers to safety, it is important that you call the police in order to file a report. In fact, some states require you to call the police even if it was a minor accident. If the accident happened in CA, you can later access the California police incident report online by entering some of the accident’s basic information. This document can later be used to file an insurance claim or as evidence in court.
Make sure that when you talk to the police you explain what happened as clearly and calmly as possible. Getting emotional or angry won’t help the officer who responds in any way, so the calmer a head you can keep the better. Furthermore, try to avoid any admission of guilt in the official report unless you know for certain that you were the one at fault.
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Document the Scene
As you are waiting for the police to be on the scene, it is a good idea to start documenting things yourself. If possible, make a written note or voice recording in your phone detailing precisely what happened. You can also take photos and videos of the scene that could come in handy later on when dealing with your insurance company or with your lawyer.
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