Automobile Accidents

Driving is a daily activity for the majority of Californians.  When people step behind the wheel of their cars, they do not expect to be involved in serious car accidents.  However, the truth is, thousands of auto accidents happen each year in California.  While some of these accidents are simple fender benders, others are catastrophic and can lead to severe injuries and in some cases, death.

What to do after an Auto Accident

After you have been involved in a car accident, there are several things you should do.

Immediately after the car accident:  you will want to stop your vehicle and if you do not feel any pain, you may exit the vehicle and check on your surroundings and your passengers.  After an accident, you should always stop.  You should never flee the scene as it is illegal.  The next thing you will want to do is collect information from the other driver(s).  You will want to obtain the other driver's name, address, phone number, license plate number, name of insurance company and driver's license number.  If there are witnesses, you should try to gather their names, addresses and phone numbers.  If the accident is serious, meaning someone has been injured or there has been property damage, someone should call for police help.

Shortly after the car accident:  you should seek medical treatment.  You may think that you are fine, but you will want to have a medical professional examine your body for things like concussions or internal injuries.  Make sure that your doctor takes notes on any diagnosis and/or treatment that he/she has provided.  After you have received medical treatment, you may want to meet with an experienced personal injury lawyer.  This is especially true if the car accident and your injuries were caused by third party negligence.