After a California car accident, get to safety, call 911, document the scene, exchange information, seek medical care, and speak with an attorney before giving any statement to the insurance companies.
Written by Babak Hashemi, Esq.After a California car accident, get to safety, call 911, document the scene, exchange information, seek medical care, and speak with an attorney before giving any statement to the insurance companies.
In the minutes and days after a crash, your priorities are safety, medical care, and documentation. Move to a safe place, call 911, photograph everything, exchange information, see a doctor, and contact an attorney before discussing fault or settlement with any insurer.
These early steps protect both your health and the evidence a future claim depends on.
If you can, move to safety and call 911 so there is an official report. Photograph the vehicles, their positions, license plates, the roadway, and any visible injuries.
Exchange names, contact details, and insurance information with the other driver, and note the names of any witnesses. Avoid apologizing or admitting fault, since those statements can be used against you later.
See a doctor even if you feel fine, because injuries like whiplash and concussions often surface days later, and a medical record connects your injuries to the crash. Keep copies of bills, repair estimates, and time missed from work.
Report the accident to your own insurer factually, but be cautious about giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company.
Insurance companies are focused on minimizing what they pay. An attorney can handle communications, value your claim properly, and protect your right to recover for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Most personal injury attorneys, including our firm, work on a contingency basis and offer a no fee consultation.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and every situation turns on its own facts. For guidance on your specific accident, contact The Hashemi Law Firm for a no fee case evaluation.
Soft-tissue injuries and concussions often become apparent a day or more after a collision. A gap between the crash and the first medical visit is one of the most common arguments insurers use to reduce a claim.
Being examined promptly creates a record that connects the injury to the collision.
An adjuster may call within days and ask for a recorded statement. You are generally not required to give one to the other driver's insurer, and early statements made before the full extent of an injury is known can be difficult to walk back.
Providing basic factual information is different from narrating fault or predicting recovery.
Learn more about our California personal injury practice, or read related articles on our blog.
The Hashemi Law Firm represents clients throughout California from two Orange County offices — Foothill Ranch and Costa Mesa — with service across the San Francisco Bay Area and the Inland Empire and San Diego. Call (949) 464-8529 or contact us for a no fee case evaluation.
Every situation is different. For advice about your specific matter, contact The Hashemi Law Firm for a no fee consultation.
Move to safety, call 911 so there is a report, photograph the scene and vehicles, exchange information, note witnesses, and seek medical care promptly.
You are generally not obligated to. It is reasonable to provide basic factual details and to speak with an attorney before giving a recorded account of fault or injuries.
A report is not always required, but it creates an independent record of the collision and is usually helpful.
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