What to Do After a Car Accident in Orange County
Car accidents are unfortunate and untimely events that are quite an inconvenience. You may be randomly going about your day only to get into an accident. What do you do from there? Are there legal remedies for you if you suffered injuries?
Car crashes may be minor with just minor damage to the car, or severe that can badly injure you and/or total your car. Whichever it is, it’s essential to know the proper procedures to follow no matter the direction you choose to handle the accident and its repercussions.
Call the Police
In any kind of accident, you must always involve the police. They will have a timely and formal record of the accident in case you need it later. The police will also write an official report of the occurrence, which you will need a copy of.
When you fail to call the police, you weaken your foundation of filing a claim with the insurance company since you lack an authentic ground to prove the accident happened the way you claim it did. Calling the police also allows them to confirm whether there was a violation of any traffic laws during the accident.
Record Evidence
As you wait for the police to arrive, the best pieces of evidence are those collected in real-time. Take photographs of the accident scene; videos of the crash, too, will work. Take a photographic record of the environment, and let the record clearly show the weather, road signs, traffic lights, or bumps in the surrounding area.
Sometimes the weather and unclear road signs might have contributed to an accident, either by causing it or by one of the drivers ignoring the situation. If there are any witnesses around, you may also interview them and take their details; witnesses may come in handy if you end up suing for personal injury.
Seek Medical Attention
No matter how okay you feel or how small an injury may seem to you, go for a check-up. Unfortunately, not all injuries show their full-blown symptoms on the spot. Some conditions gradually develop. When you fail to make an initial visit to the hospital, it will be harder to prove that particular disease was an after-effect of the injury sustained. The medical records and reports are also pieces of evidence you will need when you make a claim to show the damages you suffered.
Speak to an Attorney
Many often skip this step and go right ahead to claiming from insurance companies. Insurance companies are businesses seeking to make profits. Giving compensation payouts reduces their profit margin significantly. Therefore, expect the insurance companies to do everything in their power to do away with or give you the least possible amount in your claim; this is where a car accident attorney comes in.
An experienced car accident attorney in Orange County has dealt with car insurance companies before and is aware of all the ways insurance companies will attempt to switch fault to the client. Once you hire a lawyer, they will advise you on what to and what not to share with the insurance company; they will also handle the negotiation process for you and the insurance companies. If need be, the attorney can also file a claim in court for you if the insurance company hands them unfavorable terms for your compensation.
Things Will Get Better
The impact of an accident could be a lot to handle, especially if you got injured while at it or your car was severely damaged. You must remind yourself that there are legal remedies to compensate you for all the bills you end up catering for. It’s also imperative for you to hire a lawyer to handle the case’s legal elements while allowing yourself to heal.
