COVID-19 has changed the way we live our daily lives and so it should come as no surprise that it has also changed the best practices for handling a car accident. Keep reading to learn about the changes and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation from an experienced attorney.
Millions of people across the U.S. are either under a lockdown order, coming out of lockdown, or are self-quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though there are significantly fewer drivers on the road, accidents still occur. In many municipalities, the percentage of drivers speeding and recklessly driving has increased.
Handling a Car Accident with No Damages or Injuries
COVID-19 is still an emergency in many parts of the country. As a result, some emergency services only operate on a limited basis. As a result, if you are involved in a car accident in which no one is injured and there is not a signfician6t amount of damage, you may not have to call the police. You will need to check the local regulations to determine what your options are.
That said, even if you are not required to call the police to the scene, we recommend that you file a police report. We also recommend that while you are exchanging information with the other involved parties, you maintain regular social distancing, you collect evidence as you normally would, and that you contact your insurance provider sooner rather than later.
Handling a Car Accident with Damages and/or Injuries
If the accident involves significant property damage or there are injuries of any seriousness, then you should call the police. If the accident is non-life-threatening, then you might choose to call the non-emergency line. This creates a report and gets the necessary personnel to you without taking them away from a life-threatening situation. If you or anyone involved in the accident has a serious injury, you should call 911 for emergency medical services.
If you have minor injuries, we recommend you contact the police, get medical care, get the evidence you can from the scene, exchange information with other involved parties, identify any potential eyewitnesses, contact an insurance provider, and contact a personal injury attorney in your area.
Hiring an Attorney During the Time of COVID-19
In most cases, a car accident with no injuries and less than $1,000 in property damage does not warrant contacting an attorney. Anything worse than that should prompt you to contact an attorney for a free legal consultation. Do not wait until the threat of the virus has died down. Even if courts near you are closed, the sooner you talk to an attorney, the sooner we can get to work on your case.
Call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 now for a free consultation. If you are nervous about meeting in person or have other concerns, let us know. We can accommodate most needs and we are here to help you through this process.
