The Right Way to Handle Accidents
Most of us don’t start up our cars, before going out on an errand, expecting to be involved in a car accident. Even though, the chance that you will be part of a crash on any given day is low, all it takes is one accident to cause serious injuries that can dramatically affect you and your family’s lives. According to UC Berkeley data, there were over 3,000 traumatic vehicle accidents in Yuba City during the last twelve years. While it isn’t always possible to know when an accident will happen, it is important to know what to do if you are involved in a serious collision.
Safety First
The first thing on your mind after a crash should be the wellbeing of yourself and the occupants of your vehicle. As soon as you are able, make sure that you are not in immediate danger and check to see if you or anyone else has suffered injuries. If anyone has been hurt, immediately call 911 and ask for medical help. The sooner that medical responders arrive, the more they can do to treat severe injuries.
After calling for help, the next step is to get to a safe place. If your vehicle is still running and you feel that it is safe to drive, pull over to an area away from traffic. If your vehicle isn’t working, try to make your way to a safe location on foot. After you have reached a safe area, make yourself visible to passing vehicles by turning on the hazard lights of your car or lighting traffic flares if you have them.
Exchange Information
After ensuring your safety, you should exchange information with all drivers involved in the accident. Make sure to take down the full name, insurance policy number, license number, vehicle plate number, phone number, email, and home address of these drivers. You can keep this short list handy in your glove box so that you don’t forget a vital piece of information.
Gather Evidence
The final step at the accident scene is to gather evidence. You should take pictures of any injuries you or the occupants of your vehicle suffered. It’s also important to take pictures of the crash scene, including damage to vehicles, traffic signs in the area, and tire marks on the road. These things can be very important later on. You should also speak with witnesses of the crash. Take short statements and remember to get their contact information as well. If there aren’t any witnesses nearby, you can check nearby homes and businesses to see if anybody saw the crash take place through a window.
Call an Attorney
Not every case requires help from a professional attorney. However, it is always a good idea to call a lawyer to discuss your accident. The sooner a lawyer can start working on your injury case, the abler they are to conduct investigations and ensure you get the payments you deserve. Even if you end up not needing help from an attorney, most lawyers will offer free advice through a phone consultation where you can get valuable information about how you should proceed.
More blogs by Ed Smith, Personal Injury Lawyer in Yuba City
- Two Killed in Yuba City Highway Crash
- Defining a Yuba City Personal Injury Lawyer
- One Injured in Yuba City Area Car Accident
Yuba City Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Yuba City personal injury lawyer. If an accident has caused you serious injuries, please get in touch with me by calling (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400. We can talk about your options, and I’ll give you free, friendly advice.
I’ve served the Yuba City community for 37 years. You can see how I have helped people claim fair payments for injury cases by viewing my settlements and verdicts. If you would like to have more information about my practice, read some reviews of my work here:
I belong to the following associations:
Photo: ab
:ms llo [cs 682] cv