Biggest Legal Danger After An Injury Accident in SF

If you live in California, you will know that one of the most common dangers is injury accidents. But, if you are involved in one, you may be wondering what the biggest legal danger you can face after an accident is. Accidents can happen anywhere to anyone. For example, one might be making a quick stop after driving through a puddle of mud but suddenly get hit from behind, causing the car to jolt violently.

Medical and settlement costs continue to climb, but if you’ve lost your accident case, you have little hope of receiving adequate financial compensation. One way to remedy this is by filing an appeal to a higher court; another option is to talk to an experienced car accident attorney in California.

Statistics

According to the Los Angeles Times, three-car accidents occur every hour on average in California. There are numerous possibilities; one of them has been discovered to be not controlling your driving speed. You may endanger yourself and other drivers on the road by driving at speed. This is true for any vehicle, and speeding accounted for 26% of all vehicle accidents in 2019.

Moreover, many teenagers are also involved in auto accidents. Drinking is another factor for the growing number of car crashes. Statistics show that 24% of teenage drivers aged between 15 to 20 years were found dead due to drinking while driving. To prevent adolescent vehicle accidents, some states have enacted laws prohibiting drinking until 21.

Despite this, many drunk driving accidents were reported among 21 to 24 and 25 to 34 in the same year. Men are more involved in these car crash incidents than women. To make your life simpler, we’ve compiled a list of questions that will help you know in detail about the biggest legal danger after an injury accident.

What Should You Not Do After a Car Accident?

Being involved in a car accident can be terrifying. There are a lot of things that happen after such an event. Many individuals are concerned about what to do after an accident.

However, many often overlook the importance of focusing on what not to do. Making the wrong decisions can put you in a challenging situation. It can also affect the compensation you may receive if the other person is at fault. Here are a few don’ts that, if avoided, can help you turn a bad situation in your favor.

1. Escape the Situation

If you’ve met a car accident by any chance, do not escape. This should be the first thought that comes to mind. Leaving the matter unresolved might make it worse. It’s never a good idea to leave the scene without ensuring the well-being of any victims involved.

More importantly, if you’re parked under a bridge with your car, don’t leave the scene as a way of avoiding responsibility. If you do, there’s a chance you could be charged with careless or reckless driving. Even if you are not at fault, park your car on the side of the road to avoid more accidents or creating problems for others.

2. Forget to Collect Details

Once you’ve been in an accident, it’s essential to collect the details of the people involved. The details may include their name, phone number, address, registration number of automobile, driving license, and lastly, the name of the automobile insurance company, etc.

Moreover, not everyone has the money to cover the damages sustained by the car. Insurance providers often handle vehicle coverage. So, you can seek compensation from both your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company. You should also share your details with the other person if they ask for it.

3. Forget to Call 911

Despite the situation, do not forget to call 911 in case of a car accident. There’s a common misconception that people should only call 911 if the person involved in an accident suffers a severe injury.

It’s always right to call 911 and let the police investigate the entire matter. They will generate a report of the faulty person based on the situation of the road, witnesses, and anything involved in the accident. Moreover, this way you can exchange correct details. But suppose you refuse to call 911 and solve it on your own. In that case, there’s a possibility that you might not get the correct information about the driver.

4. Lose Your Calm

Most people make a common mistake in a car accident is losing their temper while dealing with the situation. There’s no denying that car accidents are terrible, and you might have to go through a rigorous process to get the compensation you deserve. But, at the same time, you need to make sure that you deal with everything very calmly.

Do not come out of your car by shouting at the other person. Instead, start your conversation by asking them whether they are fine. Yelling at each other won’t do good to either of you. Assess the situation calmly and do whatever is required in the process.

5. Admit Your Fault If It’s Not Your Fault

Another thing that you should take care of is to avoid admitting your fault without analyzing the situation appropriately. Most people realize their fault in a state of confusion, even though they might not be at fault. But, this can go against you; the other driver might use it in their defense or even your insurance company.

This may also influence whether you should compensate for the car damage or your injury. If you have an attorney, they may help you in this regard.

6. Forget to Collect Evidence

As soon as you exchange the contact details with the other driver, try collecting every single piece of the scene. If you have a camera or cellphone, don’t forget to take images of your vehicle and the other driver’s vehicle before leaving. You may also get the contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident.

7. Forget to Contact Attorney

Another thing people usually forget after a car accident is to contact their attorney. Whether you or the other person is injured, do not forget to get your attorney.

Most people realize the importance of an attorney right after an accident. Having a personal attorney can save you time and help you with all the legal guidance required. An attorney during a car accident tells you:

Whether you are eligible to file a personal injury case against the other driver
How to contact the insurance company of the other driver
How to claim your car insurance company for the car accident
How to collect evidence for your case

What Possible Injuries You Can Get After a Car Accident?

A car accident results from your negligence while driving; one must take care of others and protect themselves to avoid any fatal accident. These accidents can result in minor and significant life-threatening injuries. Sometimes you are safe, but mental trauma hits you for weeks or even months.

You may not feel discomfort initially, but you will notice it afterward. Here’s a list of possible injuries that you may get after an accident:

The most frequent injuries are scars, scrapes, and bruises, which may require bandaging or stitching
Skin or bones may be injured due to a collision with the steering wheel, a shattered window, or an airbag.
Skin burns or exposure to any liquid or chemical may occur if a car catches fire
Back injuries that lead to paralysis may occur as a result of car accidents
Fractures in the shoulder, neck or any other body part may occur.

Can Someone Sue After Car Accident is Settled?

Once the settlement is made, both parties feel that they have arrived at a win-win situation. So typically, they don’t sue the at-fault driver after an amicable settlement. Some people find the settlement unfair, so they sue the other party. This usually doesn’t happen in California.

Car Accident Attorney in California

If you’ve been in a car accident, you need a qualified attorney. Car accidents are relatively common in the US. A car accident is no doubt traumatizing. It can cause physical as well as emotional damage. These car crashes can cost damage thousands of dollars.

The attorney can help navigate the procedure and get you the compensation for your loss. There’s always a lot of legal work required for the insurance follow-up. A car accident attorney can help you file a claim for the insurance. In case of a dispute, they can also help file a lawsuit against a liable party.

Car accident attorneys can help you recover the cost of damages, medical bills, and more. They allow you to make the right decisions that could benefit you in the future. They advise you on the settlements and can save you from saying anything that could affect your case.

When Should You Sue for a Car Accident?

It all depends on the person and the situation. If you or your loved one is injured and the other driver is at-fault for breaking the law, you should consider filing a lawsuit. In some instances, people claim against the other party’s insurance company because of their better insurance coverage.

However, if the insurance coverage does not meet your needs, you may need to file a lawsuit against the other party. Here are a few reasons that tell you the right time to file a lawsuit:

Your quality of life has been suffered after you met a car accident
You lost a loved one during an accident due to the fault of the other driver
You are unable to perform your routine responsibilities
You got serious injuries
You experienced severe financial losses

Can You Make a Claim for Anxiety After Car Accident?

A car accident can cause anxiety and even panic attacks. You may start stressing over small instances in your daily routine. It may be challenging to sit in a car with the fear of getting a severe injury. The flashback of the car accident can put you in an uncomfortable position. Mental trauma is as devastating as physical trauma.

However, it may be difficult to get compensated for mental trauma. Your attorney will fight on your behalf and prove it to the insurance company by having specialists testify on your behalf. Moreover, you can show your medical records signed by your psychologist. To get the necessary compensation, you need to prove how difficult your life has become after the traumatic car accident.

Ending Note

After today, you will be better aware of the potential legal dangers of a car accident. Death is not the only risk in a car accident.

Thousands of injuries occur each year, and these injuries frequently result in the need for lawyers. Such injuries also lead to medical bills and other hefty expenses. However, suppose you try to evade the legal system and cut corners. In that case, personal injury attorneys may try to declare you to be the one at fault.

The amount of money you receive from the insurance company will rise if you hire an attorney to handle your case. We at Phoong Law offer unrivaled legal services to clients who have been injured in car crashes in California.