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What to Do in an Accident

Written by: Oleg Cross

Reputation Level 7

Posted over 2 years ago. Applies to California, 5 helpful votes, 0 comments

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Be Prepared

You can start by being prepared. The most careful and responsible drivers always carry: their driver and insurance information, a disposable camera, pen, paper, and their lawyer’s contact information in the car. A camera can come in very handy if someone later tries to accuse you of being at fault. People often change their story when they discover just how much they will have to pay for your repairs. So be diligent. After calling the police, the first thing you should try to do is to take pictures from as many different angles as possible. Take pictures of the other car, the driver, any witnesses or license plates of cars on the scene. Also check to see if there are any dangerous road conditions (slippery roads, obstructed signs, tree branches or objects on the road, etc.) you should document.

Call 911 and document the facts

Always call the police and never leave the scene of the accident, no matter how minor the accident is and how friendly the other driver behaves. Leaving may result in hit-and-run charges even if the driver is not at fault. Moreover, it is not uncommon for “friendly” drivers to later accuse you of fleeing the scene or try to place the blame on you. Immediately after the accident, always quickly write down the license plate and the description of the car and the driver. This, again, can help track him down if he drives off.

Be polite and cooperative

Talk to the other driver and the witnesses, but never volunteer that you are at fault. Very often, people mistakenly think they had caused the accident, only to discover through the police report and witnesses’ recollection that it was the other driver’s fault. Admitting fault can lock you into having to pay for all the damage, so do not say anything until you talk to the police. At the same time, try not to get angry and not to accuse the other driver – tell the police what you know, and let them resolve the issue. Also, when talking to the police, remember that your job is to share the facts, and their job is to investigate what these facts mean. Calmly explain what happen, and do not sign anything unless it is for the police.

Locate witnesses

It will help to have witnesses to the accident who are not connected to you or the other driver. Ask other drivers and pedestrians to leave their contact information with you, even if they do not want to wait until the police arrives. If they tell you it was the other driver’s fault, ask them to write down what they saw. Likewise, if the other driver admits fault, ask him to write what happened on a piece of paper. This will save you from a major headache later on, if the driver tries to change his story. Again, never sign or promise anything yourself.

Contact your insurance company

Call your insurance company to report the accident. But do not agree to speak with the representatives of the insurance company for the other driver until you talk to your lawyer. If at all possible, try to contact an attorney shortly after the accident – while your memory of the events is still fresh.

Seek medical treatment for injuries

After the accident, always see a doctor immediately or at least within a few days. Very often, people are unaware of the injuries they had developed. Failure to treat these injuries may have serious health consequences, and you may not be reimbursed for your medical bills if you do not seek help right away. For serious injuries, go to an emergency room. For minor injuries, or if you don’t think you have any injuries, see a physician or a chiropractor as soon as possible.

Consult a lawyer

Finally, even if you do not think it is necessary, consider seeing a lawyer for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, car damage, lost wages, and caregiver wages if the other driver was at fault. In addition, you may need help determining whether the insurance company is treating your fairly. To protect your rights, you must act quickly and correctly. Hiring an experienced and highly qualified attorney can help ensure that all your questions are answered, and you are fairly compensated for your loss.