What To Do After a Car Accident
You need to know the steps to take after a car accident occurs. Understandably, the aftermath of any type of collision can lead to confusion and distress. Here, we want to review some of the basic steps to take after a vehicle accident occurs in Oakland or the surrounding areas. If you have recently been involved in a vehicle accident, we encourage you to reach out to a car accident lawyer in Oakland as soon as possible. We do hope you are simply reviewing these points so you’re better prepared if an accident does occur, but we are here to help when you need us.
Call 911 and Report the Incident
Right after a car accident occurs, you need to call 911 and notify the emergency dispatcher of the incident. Depending on the nature of the collision, law enforcement officials will come to the scene of the incident. The dispatcher may send EMS personnel along with firefighters to help secure the safety of the scene and ensure individuals receive proper medical care.
Nearly every vehicle accident that occurs in the Oakland area must be reported to police. Law enforcement officials will conduct a preliminary investigation and fill out an accident report.
Check for Injuries and Seek Medical Care
Before any other task gets completed after an accident, individuals need to check themselves and their passengers for injuries. Any person who has been involved in an accident should seek prompt medical treatment, even if they do not have immediate signs or symptoms of injuries. Often, these signs and symptoms are delayed by hours or even days.
Seeking prompt medical care after a vehicle accident in Oakland helps not only ensure the well-being of those involved but it also creates a strong medical record paper trail between the accident and any injuries that occur.
Gather Evidence if You Can
After a vehicle accident, individuals involved may be able to gather some evidence at the scene of the incident. However, this is dependent on the severity of the injuries and the safety of the accident scene. Individuals can use their phones or any other type of camera to take photographs of the entire scene, including injuries, property damage, debris, skid marks, and more. Look around to see if there are any cameras on nearby homes, businesses, or inside vehicles involved. These cameras may have valuable surveillance footage. If there were any eyewitnesses to the accident, their names and contact information should be written down promptly.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer
A car accident lawyer in Oakland can get involved quickly and help advise you on the best steps to take moving forward. A lawyer can conduct an investigation into the claim, handle negotiations with insurance carriers, and prepare your case for trial if necessary.
Report the Incident to Your Insurer
It is a good idea to report any vehicle accident to your insurance carrier the day the incident occurs. This can occur through the mobile app or online, or you can call the insurance carrier to let them know. Do not go into much detail when you make your initial report because you do not know the extent of your injuries or property damage right away. In fact, if you have an attorney at this point, let them make the call to the insurance carrier.
Continue Medical Treatment
Any vehicle accident victim in Oakland should continue all medical treatment recommended by their doctor until they have recovered. Discontinuing care against medical advice is not a good idea, particularly if you have an injury claim in progress. Any discontinuation of medical care could be seen by the insurance carrier or attorneys for the defendant as a reason to lower any settlement offer or deny the claim altogether.