Available 24/7If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a motor vehicle collision caused by negligence, you can pursue damages from the liable party. Our step-by-step legal guide can tell you what to do after a car accident in Temecula, CA, to protect your health, your rights, and your claim for compensation.
1. Get to Safety and Call for Help
The first thing you should do immediately after a car accident is stop your vehicle. If you are on the roadway, move to a safer location if possible. Failure to stop at the scene of a crash could lead to criminal charges for a “hit and run.” Next, you should check yourself for injuries and call 911.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), you must report your accident. If an officer from the Temecula Police Department was at the scene, this is done. If you did not call law enforcement, you should submit a written report to the police or California Highway Patrol (CHP) as soon as possible.
In addition, you, your insurance broker, or your personal injury lawyer must report any auto accident involving injuries or $1,000 in property damages to the DMV within 10 days of the crash using form SR-1.
2. Document the Accident Scene
If you are physically able, you should gather as much information as you can at the accident scene. You should:
- Photograph the scene, your injuries, and the damaged vehicles
- Get contact information, insurance information, driver’s license numbers, and license plate numbers from the other involved parties
- Write down everything you can remember about the crash, including the location, time, date, and current road and weather conditions
- Get the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses
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Call Us Now3. Get Medical Treatment
You may have received medical treatment at the time of the crash. If not, see your doctor about your car accident injuries immediately. Once you have consulted a physician, ensure you follow their orders and attend all future appointments. Avoid engaging in work or activities that worsen your condition. You should also avoid posting about your injuries or the accident on social media.
4. Save Bills and Records
You should save medical bills and records, pay stubs, invoices, receipts, and other proof of financial damages you have suffered due to your Temecula car accident. You should also keep a journal noting how your injuries interfere with your physical, mental, and emotional health and daily life.
You can use this information to support your claim for compensation, which may include the following types of damages:
- Current and future medical expenses, including ambulance transportation, emergency department services, hospital stays, doctor bills, medical equipment, prescription medications, physical therapy, nursing, and attendant care
- Lost wages and employment benefits, including income from missed work and the loss of your future earning capacity if your injury forces you to change jobs, permanently reduce your workload, or leave the workforce
- Pain and suffering, including monetary compensation for chronic and severe pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, and reduced quality of life
- Wrongful death of a loved one, including medical expenses, burial and funeral costs, loss of your loved one’s income, services, and support, and the loss of your loved one’s care, companionship, comfort, and guidance
5. File An Auto Insurance Claim Against the Liable Driver
California is an at-fault car insurance state, meaning drivers must carry auto liability insurance to pay for accidents they cause. You should file a claim against the at-fault driver immediately.
If legal action is necessary, CCP § 335.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for filing most personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits. If this deadline passes, the court will likely refuse your suit, so do not wait too long to get started on your case.
If you’ve been injured or a loved one has been killed through an act of negligence, you need the highest level of legal representation.
Schedule a Free Consultation6. Be Careful What You Say to the Insurance Company
After you file your claim, the insurance company may contact you. If someone calls, be polite and stay calm. Do not provide details about the accident other than basic information like the time, date, and place. Do not accept blame for the crash or speculate on fault.
Do not agree to give a recorded statement. Anything you say could be used against you. Remember, anyone you deal with is working for the insurer, not you, and their priority will be to increase their employer’s profits by reducing your settlement or denying your claim. Do not accept the insurance company’s initial offer without consulting your attorney.
7. Consider Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
You may want to hire a car accident lawyer to represent you. Working with a lawyer can give you someone who will look out for your best interests and do the work needed to build a solid claim. Our law firm can tell you more about your legal options during a free consultation.
How an Attorney With Our Law Firm Can Help
While you focus on your physical recovery, a car accident lawyer with our firm can do the following to help you recover damages:
- Visit the accident scene, take photographs and video, and collect physical evidence
- Obtain available surveillance, dashcam, or cell phone video of the collision
- Locate and interview eyewitnesses
- Identify liable parties and prove their negligence caused the crash
- Identify and pursue all your losses
- Prepare and file insurance claims
- Manage paperwork, deadlines, and case-related communications
- Aggressively negotiate with the insurance company for the maximum settlement possible
- Prepare your case for civil court, file a lawsuit, and represent you at trial if necessary
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Schedule NowContact Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers About Your Car Accident Case
Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers is dedicated to helping injured people recover. We have won over $40 million in settlements, verdicts, and judgments for our clients. If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a collision, our car accident lawyers in Temecula can guide you step by step through your claim and fight for the money you need to get back on your feet.
As soon as you sign with us, we notify the insurance company immediately and get to work. Contact us online or call today to learn more. We offer free initial consultations and take cases on a contingency basis.
