What to Do After a Car Accident in California

cartwrightlaw - April 27, 2023 -

What you do after you have been injured in a car accident makes a difference. Your actions can affect your legal situation and your ability to receive full financial compensation for your injuries. There are things that you can do to help your case and mistakes that you can make that cost you money. Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer in the Santa Rosa area is a good idea.

What Happens at the Scene of the Car Accident

There are some things that you can do at the scene of the car accident if you are in a physical condition to do so.  Your first priority should be on your own health and getting the medical treatment that you need. If you have suffered injuries, you may not be able to do things like take pictures of the accident scene and speak to witnesses. If possible, you should ask someone else to take pictures and get the contact information of witnesses if you cannot.

At the scene, you should also:

• Never admit fault for the car accident
• Never discuss the facts of the accident with the other driver or argue with them
• Remain as calm as possible (as hard it may be, given what you are going through)
• Call law enforcement to come to the scene of the accident and write a police report

What to Do in the Days After the Car Accident

Much of your work comes in the days after the accident. The first thing that you must do is get medical care for your injuries. Even if you do not think that you have been injured, it is in your best interest, both physically and legally, to see a doctor. Some car accident injuries may not immediately be apparent. 

For example, things like whiplash injuries or traumatic brain injuries may not show symptoms at the scene or in the days after the accident. Not feeling any pain does not necessarily mean that you are unhurt. It is always better to go to a doctor to rule out injuries or get treatment for the ones with which you are diagnosed. 

Follow All the Doctor’s Orders

If the doctor has prescribed any medications or treatment, you must follow their recommendations. The insurance company will review your medical files to verify that you did what you were supposed to after the accident. If they think that you delayed getting medical care, or you did not follow treatment orders, they may blame you in part for your injuries. Not only do you need medical care for your own health, but you also cannot give the insurance company any opening to make your life harder than it already is. 

Get a Car Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible

At the same time, you should hire an experienced car accident lawyer to handle your case. You must go through an entirely legal process before you can receive a settlement check, and getting money from your injuries is far from automatic. First, you must prove that the other driver was negligent. Then, you must negotiate the actual amount of compensation with the insurance company.

No matter how much you think you can save money by handling your own case, you cannot outsmart the insurance company. On the contrary, they will get the better of you every time when you try to deal with them on your own. A car accident lawyer will fight for your legal rights and look out for your interests in your case. 

Do Not Try to Deal with the Insurance Company on Your Own

You should make the call to a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. Not only can you lose valuable evidence that can be used to prove your case, but you also run a much higher risk of making a mistake that can compromise your case. The insurance company is looking to trip you up any way that they can – do not give them the opening. If you cannot make the call yourself, you should have a family member contact the attorney for you.

Although it may not be easy, you should also get yourself as organized as possible. Your attorney could ask you for information in a short period of time. They may need:

• Medical records that show the extent of your injury (so they can calculate the damages that you should seek in your claim)
• Any evidence about the car accident in your possession
• Information that shows how much money you lost from not being able to work

Make Sure to Keep as Quiet as Possible About Your Accident and Injuries

What is every bit as important is what you should not do after a car accident. When you have a potential claim, silence is critical. The other driver’s insurance company wants to gather all possible information that they can use against you. This information could include evidence that shows you could have been responsible for the accident. Do not ever post anything on social media about the accident or speak to someone about it who you do not know. You should even be careful about talking to too many acquaintances.  

The insurance company may also try to argue that you are not as injured as you say. Therefore, you should not even speak about your condition publicly. The insurance company may even have hired someone to follow you (it does not happen all the time, but it can happen) to see if you are as injured as you say. You should be circumspect about what you post on social media from the time of your accident and afterward. 

Call a Santa Rosa Car Accident Lawyer Today

The attorneys at the Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. are the tough fighters that you need when the insurance company is giving you the runaround. We jump hurdles and smash through barriers for our clients. The first step is to contact us to schedule your free initial consultation. You can send us a message online or call us today at (415) 851-6486.

What you do after you have been injured in a car accident makes a difference. Your actions can affect your legal situation and your ability to receive full financial compensation for your injuries. There are things that you can do to help your case and mistakes that you can make that cost you money. Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer in the Santa Rosa area is a good idea.

What Happens at the Scene of the Car Accident

There are some things that you can do at the scene of the car accident if you are in a physical condition to do so.  Your first priority should be on your own health and getting the medical treatment that you need. If you have suffered injuries, you may not be able to do things like take pictures of the accident scene and speak to witnesses. If possible, you should ask someone else to take pictures and get the contact information of witnesses if you cannot.

At the scene, you should also:

• Never admit fault for the car accident
• Never discuss the facts of the accident with the other driver or argue with them
• Remain as calm as possible (as hard it may be, given what you are going through)
• Call law enforcement to come to the scene of the accident and write a police report

What to Do in the Days After the Car Accident

Much of your work comes in the days after the accident. The first thing that you must do is get medical care for your injuries. Even if you do not think that you have been injured, it is in your best interest, both physically and legally, to see a doctor. Some car accident injuries may not immediately be apparent. 

For example, things like whiplash injuries or traumatic brain injuries may not show symptoms at the scene or in the days after the accident. Not feeling any pain does not necessarily mean that you are unhurt. It is always better to go to a doctor to rule out injuries or get treatment for the ones with which you are diagnosed. 

Follow All the Doctor’s Orders

If the doctor has prescribed any medications or treatment, you must follow their recommendations. The insurance company will review your medical files to verify that you did what you were supposed to after the accident. If they think that you delayed getting medical care, or you did not follow treatment orders, they may blame you in part for your injuries. Not only do you need medical care for your own health, but you also cannot give the insurance company any opening to make your life harder than it already is. 

Get a Car Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible

At the same time, you should hire an experienced car accident lawyer to handle your case. You must go through an entirely legal process before you can receive a settlement check, and getting money from your injuries is far from automatic. First, you must prove that the other driver was negligent. Then, you must negotiate the actual amount of compensation with the insurance company.

No matter how much you think you can save money by handling your own case, you cannot outsmart the insurance company. On the contrary, they will get the better of you every time when you try to deal with them on your own. A car accident lawyer will fight for your legal rights and look out for your interests in your case. 

Do Not Try to Deal with the Insurance Company on Your Own

You should make the call to a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. Not only can you lose valuable evidence that can be used to prove your case, but you also run a much higher risk of making a mistake that can compromise your case. The insurance company is looking to trip you up any way that they can – do not give them the opening. If you cannot make the call yourself, you should have a family member contact the attorney for you.

Although it may not be easy, you should also get yourself as organized as possible. Your attorney could ask you for information in a short period of time. They may need:

• Medical records that show the extent of your injury (so they can calculate the damages that you should seek in your claim)
• Any evidence about the car accident in your possession
• Information that shows how much money you lost from not being able to work

Make Sure to Keep as Quiet as Possible About Your Accident and Injuries

What is every bit as important is what you should not do after a car accident. When you have a potential claim, silence is critical. The other driver’s insurance company wants to gather all possible information that they can use against you. This information could include evidence that shows you could have been responsible for the accident. Do not ever post anything on social media about the accident or speak to someone about it who you do not know. You should even be careful about talking to too many acquaintances.  

The insurance company may also try to argue that you are not as injured as you say. Therefore, you should not even speak about your condition publicly. The insurance company may even have hired someone to follow you (it does not happen all the time, but it can happen) to see if you are as injured as you say. You should be circumspect about what you post on social media from the time of your accident and afterward. 

Call a Santa Rosa Car Accident Lawyer Today

The attorneys at the Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. are the tough fighters that you need when the insurance company is giving you the runaround. We jump hurdles and smash through barriers for our clients. The first step is to contact us to schedule your free initial consultation. You can send us a message online or call us today at (415) 851-6486.

Our successful case results are a reflection of the values and virtues we believe in and uphold at Cartwright Law Firm. Nothing stops us from pursuing justice on behalf of those who need it.

Robert E. Cartwright Jr.
Founder and Managing Partner