5 Things to Do Immediately After a Serious Los Angeles Car Accident

It can feel like a blur to live through a serious Los Angeles car accident. You need to know what to do in advance to keep your cool during this situation. Follow these steps if you find yourself on the side of the road after a Los Angeles car accident. The shock of going through the accident may make it hard to keep things straight. Keep these tips in the back of your mind so you’re prepared if you find yourself in a Los Angeles car accident.

Move the Cars

If cars or any debris are blocking oncoming traffic, move them if you can. If you can’t move the cars, try to turn on flasher or use flares to alert other drivers. This is key for preventing pileup accidents. Police can help with this if you don’t know how to move the vehicles. They can also direct traffic away from cars/debris in the short term.

Call the Police

If anyone is seriously injured or there’s significant vehicle damage, you need to contact the police. It’s a best practice to call the police no matter what as they can help with the police report, clearing the scene, and telling you more about what’s next. Getting the police to keep may also help you keep your calm and get what you need before you leave the scene.

Get Evidence

If you’re able to, use your phone to record photos or videos. This can include your injuries, vehicle damage, indications of the accident scene such as tire skid marks, and anything else about the scene that may be relevant.

When the police arrive, ask for a copy of the police report or how you can obtain one. If you can’t get evidence at the scene, use the police report as your starting point. Your Los Angeles car accident lawyer may be able to help you get other details that firm up what happened.

Get Medical Care

Not sure if you’re hurt yet? You need to get medical attention just in case. Some injuries cannot be spotted with the naked eye or right after a crash. Whiplash, for example, may take days to develop. Get prompt medical attention at the scene, even if that’s going to your primary care doctor or urgent care to rule anything more serious out at that point.

If there are any changes in your symptoms, report these to your doctor right away. The more information you can give your doctor, the better prepared they’ll be to order the right tests following your Los Angeles car accident.

Contact Your Insurance

You need to notify your car insurance company right away. Ideally, do this no later than a few days after the accident. At that point, everything is still fresh in your mind. The sooner you call your insurance, the sooner you can get the vehicle looked at and repaired, if that’s possible.

Do not make any statements about blame involving yourself at these early stages. You may not know how the accident happened just yet, but want to avoid making any statements that could lead to confusion or unnecessary delays/denials of your claim. Wait until you speak to an injury attorney to determine next steps.

A lawyer can also help manage the communication with your insurance company and any other involved parties. If you’re not able to get clear answers or can’t get a call back, involving a lawyer shows you’re taking things seriously. A lawyer handling this for you removes that stress so you can worry about your medical care.

Talk to a Lawyer

You might assume that your insurance company will help you get the compensation you need. Sadly, that’s often not the case. You need to find an attorney if you’re experiencing delays or denials with your insurance company. Even if you’ve done your work to gather evidence an submit it to the insurance company quickly, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll get the outcome you want.

Engaging an attorney sooner rather than later might help boost the strength of your case. Our Los Angeles car accident lawyers have years of experience working with accident victims. Although it might feel overwhelming, you’re not alone in this situation when a personal injury attorney helps you advance your claim.