Sacramento Personal Injury Firm’s Guide to Post-Accident Steps

The following article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.

Ideally, you’ve discovered this guide before being involved in an auto accident. If so, you’re extremely fortunate and will be prepared should the worst find you on the road. Naturally, most people searching for post-accident information have recently suffered an accident of their own. Due to the severity of injuries often sustained from road incidents, many of our clients are physically incapable of performing the suggestions listed in this guide. Fortunately, an experienced personal injury team can uncover much of the information needed to support your case, regardless of your physical condition. If you’re interested in taking initiative and learning how to begin your personal injury investigation on your own, this guide will help point you in the right direction. 

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, or nearby, United Citizen Law can thoroughly and accurately handle every post-incident process. As one of the best personal injury firms in Sacramento, we fight for justice in our community and for our neighbors. To get started and find out what your accident case may be worth, call us at (916) 800-8457 or tell us your story today.

 

Move to a Safe Area

This is the most important piece of advice for a car accident: nothing is more vital than your immediate safety to prevent any further danger to your health. If you are physically able to exit your car, you should: 

• Stop your car after the auto accident and turn off your vehicle’s engine
• Look around and be certain that exiting your car is safe
• Exit away from traffic and relocate to a safe area off the street or highway

If traffic is causing the surrounding roadway to be unsafe, remain inside your vehicle and wait for police assistance. Many personal injury cases involve injuries sustained after an accident, so never assume that you’re safe following a vehicle collision. Pedestrians are at increased risk of fatal accidents on roadways. You may be tempted to move your vehicle from the roadway yourself, but the wisest option is typically to wait for police assistance, particularly after more serious collisions. However, if your vehicle’s damage is minor and poses a direct safety threat to other motorists, you may opt to carefully move it out of the roadway if you’re physically able to. Pay extra attention to other pedestrians or drivers involved in the accident if you decide to move your vehicle.

 

Call 911

Inform the police of the incident as soon as possible. If you or other motorists are injured, tell the operator, so they can arrange for an ambulance to arrive promptly. Be as descriptive as possible when detailing the situation, as every fact helps the police dispatch service quickly and effectively. However, avoid admitting responsibility or fault during your 911 call; such statements should be reserved until after you’ve spoken with your personal injury lawyer.

 

Exchange Information with Other Driver(s)

Collecting information can be extremely difficult after a jarring incident, but this step is necessary to pursue your recovery. Once you are in a safe area, identify the driver or drivers of the vehicles involved in the auto collision. Be sure to record their:

• Full legal name
• Home address 
• Personal phone number 
• Employer and work phone (if applicable)
• Vehicle make, model, and year
• Registered owner of the vehicle
• Insurance company name, agent, and policy number
• Any injuries or pain complaints reported by the other driver
• Any statements the driver provides to you regarding the accident

All of this information is necessary for securing your coverage and pursuing possible compensation.

 

Collect Witness Contact Information

Identify any witnesses near the accident location. Ask bystanders if they, or anyone nearby, witnessed the accident. You shouldn’t simply rely on the police to gather witness statements; officers prioritize securing and resolving accident scenes, and witnesses often leave before any police arrive. Once you’re safe, promptly get the attention of bystanders and record their names, addresses, and phone numbers. If you’re fortunate, accident witnesses will stop at the accident scene and ask how they can help. Crucial witnesses are often lost once they know the police have been called, so don’t hesitate to ask for their information before they leave the scene.

 

Record Accident Details

After an accident, details are your greatest ally. Once you are safe, record or note the following:

• Date and time of the accident
• Location—especially street intersections and landmarks
• Weather and road conditions
• Direction of vehicle movement and relative positioning of vehicles involved in the collision (diagrams are especially helpful)
• Condition of the involved vehicles and drivers, with extensive pictures and videos of the scene and surrounding area

If you’re physically able, these details are best collected while waiting for the police or healthcare providers to arrive at the scene. If your physical condition prevents you from collecting pictures or videos, ask a friend or loved one to record them on your behalf. Even if the vehicles have already been removed, any remaining debris should be identified and documented. If you did not collect pictures or videos at the crash scene, locate the involved vehicles through the police incident report and take any images you can at the repair depot. Any information you record is for the purpose of potential litigation and should not be shared with anyone other than your personal injury attorney.

 

Remain Calm

It’s never easy to keep your cool after a traumatic incident. Feeling upset or angry is perfectly normal, but it’s vital to avoid making emotional comments at the crash scene, particularly those involving the cause or fault of the accident. No inflammatory, accusatory, or remorseful remarks you make will be helpful. Statements regarding the nature of the accident are subject to legal speculation and may be used against you in a personal injury case. In all situations, remain at the scene until help arrives.

 

Seek Help, Don’t Be a Hero

If you are not removed from the scene of the accident by ambulance, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Crash victims often don’t experience pain until well after the incident due to post-trauma adrenaline. Pain may take time to manifest, and it’s best to consult medical professionals for prompt evaluation of your condition. Do not wait to seek medical attention in the hope that pain will be resolved on its own. Seeking medical care signals to insurance companies that a victim is, in fact, injured. Failing to seek care could result in an insurance company claiming you weren’t injured in the accident. Upon arrival at the care center, inform the physician that you have been involved in an auto accident and describe every unusual feeling you’re currently experiencing, no matter how minor. Doctors may recognize your complaints as symptoms of serious medical issues.

 

Listen and Remember

Pay close attention to everything that is said at the accident scene. Listen to everything that the other drivers and witnesses say; their conversations may contain invaluable evidence for a personal injury lawsuit. If the other driver or witnesses express or imply any fault in the form of apologies or acknowledgments of recklessness, make note of it as soon as possible. In the aftermath of a traumatic experience, your memory can quickly become unreliable. That’s why we recommend immediately documenting everything using your mobile device’s voice recording or notes applications.

 

Report the Accident to Your Insurance Provider

Promptly report the auto accident to your insurance company, regardless of who you believe is at fault. To protect your right to insurance coverage, your insurance company is entitled to be notified of car accidents you’re involved in, extent of injuries to you and any passengers, and damage to your vehicle. We advise that you speak with a personal injury attorney before providing your insurance company with recorded statements. Our legal team often speaks with the insurance companies on behalf of our personal injury clients in conference calls. Our attorneys can then verify that clients meet their contractual obligations with the insurance company while avoiding misleading statements that could jeopardize a potential personal injury case.

 

Do NOT Give Statements to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company

Nothing good can come from cooperating with another motorist’s insurance company. Never give a recorded statement to an insurance company covering another driver after an accident, including its employees, representatives, or investigators. If you and the other accident-involved driver share the same insurance provider, give a statement only to the adjuster handling the claim on your behalf, not the other driver’s. Dealing with insurance adjusters after a car accident can be confusing, and discussing the situation first with a personal injury attorney is the best way to proceed.

 

Find a Personal Injury Lawyer/Attorney

Some personal injury claims, especially those involving minimal injury or property damage, can be settled without attorney representation. However, laws related to accident injuries are complex and frequently changing. Insurance companies know how to navigate confusing rules and regulations, and most accident victims are wholly unprepared for their tactics. Insurance companies work in the interest of their bottom line, not yours. With a personal injury attorney, your interests are represented first and foremost.

With no shareholders or alternative motives to answer to, an experienced and trusted personal injury firm like United Citizen Law is essential for optimal recovery after any accident caused by another’s negligence. Our team will research and analyze the facts of your claim, work with healthcare providers, prepare legal documents, and negotiate a fair settlement to get you back on your feet. If you’ve been the victim of a car accident in Sacramento or the surrounding area, call us at (916) 800-8457 or tell us about your case on our website so you can avoid the traps that far too many accident victims fall prey to.