When we take to the roads, nobody expects to be in an accident, yet we drive cautiously to help increase the chances of making it to our destinations safely. Unfortunately, there are times when people are negligence and car accidents can happen.
These are some of the most serious situations because individuals may sustain serious injuries as a result of the collision. It’s important for individuals to know they have rights to seek compensation and justice when negligence is the cause of the crash.
Before you take legal action, however, you should know that there are important steps to take after an accident in order to better protect your rights. Should you be involved in a car accident in San Francisco, make sure to follow these five steps.
1. Collecting the Right Information
After you have moved your vehicle from the road—if possible—you want to make sure you speak with the other party. Don’t apologize or say anything that can be considered an admission of guilt, but collect the necessary information to move forward.
This includes getting contact information, vehicle information, driver’s license, and insurance information. The insurance information is probably one of the more important pieces of information because it helps you seek compensation.
You can also gather information from witnesses who may have seen the crash occur and who can testify as to what happened. Get contact information so your insurance company can reach out to the party and get their account of the car accident.
2. Calling the Proper Authorities
In serious crashes, the proper law enforcement and medical teams are typically called in order to make sure everyone is okay. They come out and gather information from both parties to create a proper incident report that can also be used to show liability.
Getting an accident report can be very helpful in a car accident lawsuit because it details the scene, has testimony from each party, and also has information from witnesses. Overall, it helps protect you after the crash.
3. Taking Pictures
One of the most effective ways to help your case is to take specific pictures that can be used by your lawyer to help prove your case. If you’re not able to take the pictures yourself, see if someone can help you do so. You want to make sure you’re taking pictures of the right things.
This includes the following:
- Take pictures of the actual scene of the accident that may show missing traffic signs, problems with the road, or even tire marks on the road that may help in proving the negligent party may have been speeding and had to brake hard.
- Take pictures of the damage to the vehicles. In some situations, the actual location of the damage can help to show who may have been at fault in the crash.
- Take pictures of any visible injuries you may have sustained as this can show that the crash did actually lead to damage to more than just your vehicle.
4. Getting Medical Help
Far too often, individuals refuse to go to a doctor after their car accident simply because they don’t feel like they’ve been injured. This is often because the adrenaline is flowing and individuals simply don’t feel the physical pain.
However, it’s important to get medical attention for a number of reasons. First, because your injuries may not show up right away, you may suffer more if you allow the injuries to worsen. You also need to get the treatment necessary to help you heal.
Furthermore, getting medical help as quickly as possible can be beneficial if you need to take legal action against the negligent party. This is because you can get a medical record that helps to show, by word of a medical professional, that your injury was caused by the accident.
5. Hiring a Lawyer
Your legal rights need protecting and the most effective way to do that is to hire a San Francisco personal injury attorney who understands your rights, the legal system, and the ways to help prove negligence and liability.
This is an important step as you will be facing a large insurance company and their legal teams. They are looking out for their own best interests and are trying to find any way to minimize the impact of your claim and turn liability on you.
Having a lawyer means you’re taking the steps to avoid being taken advantage of by the other party. Even better, you can understand whether or not a settlement is right for you, and if you go to trial, seek the maximum compensation that may be available to you.
The Right San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer for You
At The Matiasic Firm, our San Francisco car accident attorneys have spent their entire careers working to protect the rights of individuals injured as a result of other people’s negligence. We know that this is a difficult situation and having someone on your side is important.
Our firm has helped recover millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims because we know how much it means to them. If you’ve been injured, you need someone to fight for you. Someone who is willing to go the extra mile so you can feel confident every step of the way.
As highly awarded and respected attorneys, we have a reputation for successfully handling these types of cases and we want to put that experience to work for you.
Call our firm today at (415) 858-6692 and learn how our firm may be able to help you. We offer free case evaluations so you can better understand your options.