When you’ve been involved in a car accident, it can be challenging to know what to do. Some people simply call their insurance company and follow their instructions. At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, there are a few things we want everyone to know to do after a car accident.
Stop as soon as you possibly can
It is illegal to leave the scene of an accident. This doesn’t mean you have to stop in a dangerous location but it does mean that you need to stop as soon as you can. It may mean pulling over on the side of the road or pulling off into the first parking lot that comes up. Regardless of where you do it, remember that if you don’t stop you will likely end up facing criminal charges for hit and run.
Look after everyone’s safety first
Once you’ve stopped you can take the time to assess everyone’s health and safety. If someone is injured then you should attend to them and call for help. While the other tips on this list are important, we want to stress that any injury, whether a sprain or a catastrophic injury, should be addressed first and foremost.
Document what happened
If you’re at the scene waiting for the police and everyone is safe, then it’s time to take photos of the accident. If you can take a video that will be helpful too. You want to document exactly what happened and having the proof of photos can be very helpful to your auto accident attorney in Highland CA.
Gather information
You’ll need to know the names of everyone involved in the accident, including any witnesses to the accident. Get names, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, license plates, insurance information, and driver’s license information. Too often at Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas we see people who assume that the police will take care of this. While they should take care of it, they don’t always.
Write down everything you remember about the accident
Your auto accident attorney in Highland CA will have a much easier time representing you if you write down as many details as you can remember as soon as you get home. This includes the time of day, the location of every vehicle, the road conditions, the injuries, the damage, etc. It may seem as though you’ll remember the details forever but most people actually lose this memory fairly quickly.
Contact an auto accident attorney in Highland CA
At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we are here to help you after an accident. Don’t speak to your insurance company and don’t sign any statements for the police until you’ve talked to us. Call us right now at 909-982-0707 for your free case evaluation.
