If you have been in a Los Angeles car accident, then you may be in a state of shock. Knowing which steps to take following the accident is critical.
Before you contact a Los Angeles car accident attorney about your accident, there are some steps that you will need to make following your crash. It can be a challenge to know who is at fault in many accidents and you’ll need to gather information first.
If you have been in an accident, do you know what you should do?
Here’s what do to if you have been in a car accident in Los Angeles.
Check Nobody Is Injured
The first thing that you need to do is to check that everybody is safe and that nobody has been injured. If anyone is both injured and trapped in their vehicle, make sure that you don’t try to move them. Contact the emergency services immediately.
Even if nobody is injured, you should still get yourself check out by a medic. You may have delayed injuries. You may also be in a state of shock.
Call the Police
At the earliest possible opportunity, you should contact the police. They will want to come out and assess the scene of the accident. They may ask both you and the other driver a series of questions to see who was at fault.
Calling the police is important as it minimizes the risk of insurance fraud.
Swap Details With the Other Driver
It is essential that you speak to the other driver and exchange details with them. Both parties will need to know names and contact details as well as registration and insurance information.
Don’t accuse the other party of causing the accident. Similarly, do not admit liability for the accident yourself. Leave this assessment to the police and insurance companies.
Gather Up Evidence
The next thing that you should do is to gather up as much evidence from the scene as possible. Take photos of the vehicles in their current position along with any damage to them. If there are any skid marks on the road, take a picture of these also.
This information will be useful for your insurance company. The more information that you can gather, the better. Dashcam footage is particularly useful.
You may also need the services of the best car accident lawyer in Los Angeles. A local law firm will also want to see this information.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Whether you were at fault or not, you will need to contact your insurance company. Do this while the details of the crash are still fresh in your mind.
Your insurance company will investigate the crash themselves.
Have You Been in a Los Angeles Car Accident?
If you have been in a Los Angeles car accident, then you should try your best to remain calm. Check that nobody has been hurt, exchange details with the other driver, gather evidence, and call the police and your insurance company.
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