After a motor vehicle accident, the scene of the crash can be a very chaotic place. There will be a lot going on, and it is important that you understand what you have to do to ensure that you are not harming your potential claims. If you are injured, you should seek treatment immediately. If you are able to remain at the site of the crash, here are some things that our lawyers recommend that you do to protect your claim.
Have law enforcement visit the scene
In most accidents happening on California roadways, police will respond to the crash to write a report. If you have heard the other parties make statements that discuss the potential causes of the crash, make sure that this is recorded in the report. When talking to police, be as thorough as possible, but do not admit any fault or accept responsibility for the accident. There may be other factors that led to the crash that you do not know about at this time.
A police report from the immediate moments after the incident is going to be very useful in helping you establish liability on the part of other drivers. The further away the accident gets, the more someone's story may change. The harder it can be to tie the crash to the other driver, which could threaten the amount of compensation you could recover.
Even minor injuries require medical attention
For example, let's say that you injured your back in the crash. It isn't anything serious; you are still able to move without being in too much pain. After a week or two, it becomes almost impossible for you to walk or sit down. You go to the doctor, and it turns out you need major surgery to correct the problem.
If you have waited too long to see your physician, the insurers may try to contest whether the back injury was actually suffered in the accident. They may try to refuse to pay the costs connected to the injury, leaving you in a very difficult position when attempting to explain that the auto accident was the sole cause of your injury.
Get contact information from witnesses
Our attorneys have seen this happen over and over, and it can be so easily prevented. You were struck by a car that ran a red light at a busy intersection. There were many witnesses to the crash, each one willing to support your version of the events. The other driver admits to causing the accident at the scene, and you do not bother to get the contact info from the witnesses because it seems like an open-and-shut case.
However, once time passes, the other motorist changes his or her story. They try to blame you for causing the crash, and their insurers are now suddenly reluctant to engage in settlement discussions. It looks like your case is going to go to trial, and you will need to have those witnesses to back up your story. Unfortunately, you are unable to have them testify on your behalf if you do not know how to reach them. The simplest cases can take years to resolve if essential evidence is not preserved.
Learn More About How Our Experienced Attorneys Can Help You
This may seem overwhelming at times, but remember, you are not going through this alone. Asatryan Law is ready to look out for you. We are prepared to take care of all of this for you and help you recover compensation.
- To schedule a compensation, call our Van Nuys office at 818-208-0000 or send us an email.
- Armenian, Russian and Spanish are spoken at our firm.
