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It may surprise many people to know that there are hundreds of car accidents on any typical day in San Diego. No doubt the same would hold true in any large city in America. Consequently, it is extremely important to know what to do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident. With that in mind, as a San Diego car accident attorney, I thought it would be helpful to set forth a list of pointers, or tips, i.e. a checklist of information, that would help the average lay person in the event that they are involved in a motor vehicle accident in San Diego. Obviously most, if not all, of this information would be applicable virtually anywhere in the United States in the event of a car accident.
Prior to setting forth the information one should follow in the event of a car accident, I should point out that it would be helpful to have certain things in your car at all times in the event that an automobile accident takes place. Insure that your glove box contains a pad and a pen or pencil to be able to write down important information. Make certain that you have a camera and cell phone on hand. These days most people have cell phones and most cell phones contain a camera so these things are typically on hand anyway at all times. It is also wise to have a first aid kit in the car to be able to self treat minor injuries prior to help arriving after the car accident.
With the above in mind, the following are my suggestions or tips to keep in mind if you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision:
1. Stay calm. The adrenaline may be flowing but staying calm will probably help prevent you from doing or saying things which may adversely affect your case. If injured it is a good idea to remain in the car until help arrives.
2. Call Police and report the car accident. Often the police will not come if it doesn't appear that there is personal injury.
3. If the police come to the car accident scene and do a report the essential information should be on the police report. However, make sure you have all the essential information, i.e. name, address, phone number of all other cars in the accident as well as of all witnesses to the car accident. Also, write down the make, model, year, and color of all other cars involved in the car accident.
4. Take pictures of all cars involved in the car accident from a number of different angles, insuring that you have photographically recorded all of the damage to all cars.
5. Do not discuss the facts of the accident with anyone other than the police, your insurance company, or your San Diego car accident attorney.
6. If you are injured in the car accident you should immediately contact a San Diego personal injury attorney who is a car accident attorney. The benefits of securing the immediate assistance of a car accident attorney in San Diego are discussed elsewhere in this blog
Being involved in a car accident is often an extremely stressful event. Keeping the above information in mind will significantly increase the chances that your car accident case is brought to a successful resolution.