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Essential Legal Advice in a Car Accident Aftermath

Statistics show that every 14 seconds, a person is injured by a car crash. Further figures show that every 12 minutes, 1 person dies because of a car accident. This goes to show that car accidents happen all the time and for all US citizens, would likely happen at least once in their lives.

Given that being involved in a car accident is somehow inevitable, it is important to know what to do in the aftermath of a car accident. There are legal issues involved in such instances especially if you’re one of the drivers involved so here is a guide on the things you need to do in a car accident aftermath:

• DO STOP. No matter how frightened or nervous you are about the consequences of the crash, it is important to stop your vehicle. A simple accident can be aggravated if you “hit and run” and criminal charges can be filed against you. You must likewise stop and pull over even if you merely hit property or animals. If you cannot find the owner of such property or animal, leave a note with your contact information or report the accident to the Humane Society or the California Highway Patrol.
• DO check yourself for injuries or whether other people got hurt in the accident. Aside from the other driver or passengers, check if pedestrians or bicyclists got caught in the crash. Call 9-1-1.
• DO move your vehicles off the road and turn on the emergency lights to notify other motorists of the accident ahead. Turn off the ignition of wrecked autos. Move other people away from the vehicle in case the gas is leaking.
• DO show your driver license, registration card, evidence of financial responsibility, as well as your current address and identification to the police as well as the other parties involved. Remember to obtain the same information from the other driver in the event you need to file a car accident claim.
• DO remember that serious or fatal car accidents must be reported to the police or the California Highway Patrol within 24 hours. The report must also be filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days either by you, your insurance company, or your car accident lawyer by accomplishing a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California Form (SR 1).
• DO NOT immediately admit fault in case of a crash, just collect the necessary information and contact your insurance company immediately after the accident. The sooner they can start the investigation, the sooner you can receive compensation.

No matter how careful you might be, a car accident might just happen to you because of the fault or negligence of other people. In such instances, aside from following the above-mentioned guidelines, it would be best to have an experienced car accident attorney by your side to help you through the car accident aftermath.