Protect Your Rights and Secure Compensation After a Car Accident

Car accident victims are entitled to compensation for their injuries and other losses. If you have been injured in a car accident, you may not know what steps need to be taken to protect yourself and to secure compensation.

Our Ventura car accident lawyers would like to discuss what to do following an accident, ways to document the accident, and why you should hire a car accident lawyer to handle your claim or personal injury suit.

What to Do Following a Car Accident

If you were involved in a car accident, it is important you take the following steps:

• Move your vehicle to the side of the road
• If it is safe, check on other vehicle drivers and passengers
• Call 911 if anyone was injured
• Notify the police
• Obtain names, addresses, phone numbers, and driver’s license numbers from all drivers
• Contact your insurance company immediately
• Report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if there is vehicle damage over $750, if there are any injuries, or if there are any fatalities
• Contact a Ventura car accident lawyer

Documenting the Accident Scene

Arguably, the most important step you can take after an accident is gathering evidence. Documenting the accident scene may include:

Taking Photographs

Pictures of video wreckage, shredded tires, skid marks, and landscape damage can go a long way in helping you collect damages. Photographs that include landmarks are especially helpful for location identification.

Identifying Witnesses

If bystanders, pedestrians, bicyclists, or anyone else witnessed the accident, you will want to take down their names, addresses, and phone numbers. Witness testimony can be compelling to a jury, helping you to recover the compensation you deserve.

Red Light Cameras

If your accident was caused by a motorist running a red light, you will want to check to see if there is a red-light camera installed at the intersection.

California Vehicle Code § 21455.5 permits the use of red-light cameras in the state. The municipality must post within 200 feet of an intersection that there is a red-light camera in use. If a motorist crosses through an intersection after the light has turned red, the camera will snap a picture of the vehicle.

Why You Should Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

Filing an accident claim is complicated. Between gathering evidence and documenting your injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages, you will also need to prepare a demand package to submit to the insurance company. 

Negotiating with insurance companies is a skill that a car accident lawyer has refined over the years. You are not expected to know what to say (or not say) to an insurance adjuster. If you want to receive fair compensation for your losses, you want to have a car accident lawyer handle the insurance claim process.

Hopefully, your case can be resolved out-of-court, but if a personal injury suit becomes necessary, a car accident lawyer will know what steps need to be taken for a successful outcome.

Ready to Speak with a Ventura Car Accident Lawyer?

If you have been in a car accident, there is no time to waste. Speak with our Ventura car accident lawyers to learn how we can assist you in securing just compensation. Let us help you return to normalcy. To schedule your case evaluation, contact us online or by calling 805-643-5555.