Whether you’re a new or experienced driver, it is crucial to be informed on what to do and what to avoid in the event of an auto accident. Understand the driving laws as they pertain to your state so that you can receive the remedies you legally deserve.
Important: This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide exhaustive nor complete legal information regarding personal injury or motor vehicle incidents.
Accidents involving motor vehicles on public territory can affect and happen to anyone. However, almost no one gets into their car to turn on the engine and drive, thinking that they will be involved in a collision that day. If it ever happens to you, you are more than likely to have a heightened emotional response, which may affect or impair your cognitive abilities.
Therefore, it is important to mentally prepare for such an incident, so you know how to proceed if it ever were to happen to you.
Call The Police
Immediately call and inform the police that you have been involved in an accident. It is highly advised for several reasons that you call the police, regardless of whether or not you believe that you have sustained bodily injuries or property damage.
Firstly, a bodily injury may not be immediately apparent to you at the scene of the injury. This may be due to the bodily’s natural shock response, which is believed to be an evolutionary survival mechanism to protect the human body during a traumatic physical or emotional event. However, once the shock has subsided, you may later discover through your own sensation or through medical inspection that you have indeed been injured as a result of the auto accident. Injuries are best treated as soon as possible following the time of injury, as delaying medical response may allow the trauma to worsen or lead to complications in a short amount of time.
Secondly, most California auto insurance policies “require notification to the police within a specified time period if the accident is a hit and run.” Many people fall into the trap of not calling law enforcement upon an auto collision, in an attempt to avoid having the incident added to their public or vehicle record, in addition to possibly affecting their insurance premiums. While it is understandable that no one wants to pay more for auto insurance, attempting to handle the incident privately between you and the other involved party is highly risky. There is no legal recourse if you do not at least contact law enforcement, and there is no way for you to legally hold the other party accountable for the promises or guarantees they make.
Call An Auto Accident Lawyer
After the police arrive and file a police report, you may need the hire an experienced San Diego Auto accident attorney to help you recover the damages you are legally entitled to. As the victim of the incident, you will need to establish and prove that the other party was liable. This is especially important in the case of severe or life-altering injuries.
Filing an insurance claim involves closely following their submission requirements, as insurance policies will rigorously review the information in determining whether to approve your deny your claim. An auto accident lawyer can help ensure that the claim is submitted properly.
Villasenor Law Offices
12396 World Trade Dr Suite 211, San Diego, CA 92128