List of Things to Do When Involved in an Automobile Accident
What are the things you should do when you become involved in an automobile accident
It is not surprising that Los Angeles County, being one of
the busiest counties in the whole United States, and having the busiest
streets, roadways/highways, have high incidence of vehicle accidents occurring
on its roads. If you are from this
county and happen to become involved in a vehicle accident, for example an auto
collision, here are the things you need to keep in mind.
- Immediately
after the accident, California state regulations on such circumstances
oblige you to stop and remain where you are. You must not leave the scene
where the accident took place, unless told to do so by the authorities.
Even if the accident you have been
involved in is but a minor fender bender, do not leave without stopping to
check or feel out if you have sustained injuries or assessed the damages to
your property.
This foremost regulation is an
important reminder because you might be prosecuted under criminal offenses for
walking away from the scene of the accident.
- The
police must be informed about the accident as soon as possible. Ambulance
can also be called if needed especially for the injured persons. If you do
not have the capacity to call up the authorities and the nearest hospital
for ambulance, request that somebody do these things.
If you are the one injured, do not
attempt to move yourself and cause more damage. Competent medical people will
be the only one to move you.
If it is possible, make
notifications for the approaching traffic to be careful in moving forward near
the accident's exact spot. You can set out some flares, turn on hazard lights
and raise your vehicle's trunk or hood to warn them about the scene.
- Make
it a point to exchange pertinent information with the other driver/drivers
involved in the same accident. Do not forget taking down his/her name,
address, residence or office telephone numbers, the vehicle's license
plate number, the driver's license number, his/her insurance carrier,
policy numbers and insurance agent's name and phone number.
- Get
some information about the people who have witnessed the accident that
will help you to identify them later on. Try presenting yourself, if you
can, for them to identify you as someone involved or injured in the
accident they have witnessed.
Request the police authorities who
investigated and made report about the accident for their business cards. Take
note of the incident number they have indicated in their report for you to
acquire a copy of such report.
- Take
basic and general notes about the whole incident – where the accident
occurred and how it happened, as you remember it. What were the road
conditions, prescribed speed limits, the traffic control gadgets you
noticed were installed, the weather, the road's lighting conditions?
Which direction where you headed,
what were you and the other party's car doing during the time the collision /
accident happened.
If your case would go to
litigation, remember that you may need this information. You may also be given
a ruling to share them to the opposite party.
- Be
careful not to admit fault yet
, even if you think you have some liability
for its happening. Never release statements without consulting with a
legal counsel specializing in road accidents or automobile accident lawyer
first. Your admissions might be employed against you later as your case
progresses.
Get help in evaluating your automobile or car accident
claims. Contact professional automobile accident lawyers Los Angeles County for
their well versed assessment. Visit them at http://www.mesrianilaw.com/Automobile-Accident-Lawyer.html
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lala C. Ballatan a.k.a Kay Zetkin discovered the pleasure of writing through her daily journals way back when she was 10. With writing, she felt freedom – to express her viewpoints and assert it, to bring out all concerns -- imagined and observed, to bear witness.
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