Sacramento’s freeways, highways, and city streets see a dramatic number of car accidents. The resulting injuries can have long-term implications for medical bills, lost wages, and future expenses. A Sacramento Auto Injury Lawyer can help you secure the compensation you need. A local attorney can also protect you from the tactics of insurers and adjusters.

Get Medical Attention

Getting into a car accident in Sacramento is frightening, chaotic and overwhelming. But knowing the right steps to take can help ensure everyone’s safety, make the process smoother and safeguard your legal interests.

After the crash, the first thing you should do is check for injuries. Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s important to get medical care as soon as possible. It will identify and treat latent or hidden injuries that could have serious long-term consequences if left untreated. It also creates an official medical record of your injuries, reinforcing the legitimacy of any legal claims you may pursue.

In addition, seeking medical attention will likely prompt the police to arrive on the scene and file a report. This will provide critical information for your insurance claim, such as witness statements and an official description of the accident’s cause. It will also help resolve any disputes over liability. This is especially important as California has strict time limits for filing injury and property damage claims.

Call the Police

A call to law enforcement is the most important step after any car accident. Regardless of whether or not injuries were sustained, it’s crucial to have your crash documented by an official. In addition to ensuring that you are safe, reporting the incident provides vital information that is necessary for insurance and legal matters.

For instance, a police officer can verify the driver’s name, insurance policy details, and contact information. In cases where the other driver becomes hostile or refuses to provide insurance information, police can help de-escalate the situation and ensure that information is exchanged correctly.

Additionally, police can assess property damage and initial fault for the accident. This is essential for pursuing compensation in a car accident claim because California’s pure comparative fault laws reduce a victim’s financial award proportionately to their percentage of fault. Having an official police report helps support a personal injury claim. It also complies with state laws and avoids penalties for failing to report a car crash.

Take Photos

Photographing the accident scene is crucial in determining fault. It helps a lawyer and experts reconstruct how the accident occurred and who was at fault. Start taking pictures as soon as you are able to do so safely. Ideally, the first hour following an accident is the best time to capture photographic evidence. Conditions at the accident site change quickly, and memories fade over time.

Take wide shots that provide context and frame the accident, as well as close-ups of vehicle damage to show detail. Include the license plate numbers of any vehicles involved, and take photos from different angles and distances.

Also take photos of any weather conditions that may have played a role in the crash, as well as street signs and other relevant information that can help identify the location. Finally, capture any visible injuries you or anyone else sustained. These will be invaluable in filing a claim for compensation. Bruises and cuts may fade or heal over time, but a photo will always remain.

Hire an Attorney

One of the most important steps in a Sacramento car accident case is working with an experienced lawyer. They will be able to review the facts of your accident and build a solid case for compensation. They will also be able to communicate with insurance companies and other parties involved in the case.

Serious accidents can cause significant medical expenses, loss of income, property damage, and more. The compensation from a successful claim can help victims and their families pay for these damages.

It can be difficult to navigate legal and insurance complexities on your own. Hiring a Sacramento accident attorney will allow you to rest easier. Your lawyer will handle communication with insurance companies, review settlement offers, and may even take the case to trial if a fair agreement cannot be reached. They can also help you obtain the maximum compensation from your claim.