What to Do After a Car Accident in Riverside
October 6, 2020 Posted In Car Accidents
Getting into a car accident in Riverside, California can be stressful and confusing. You might not know what steps to take to ensure the protection of your rights as an injured crash victim. Always stay at the scene of a collision to check for injuries, render aid and exchange contact information with the other driver. Then, take other actions to improve your chances of having a successful car insurance claim in Riverside.
Call the Police
Calling 911 after a car accident in Riverside can help you document your wreck by obtaining an official police report. You should always call the police from the scene of an accident – even a minor accident – to help protect your rights as a victim. Certain factors, however, can make it even more important to involve law enforcement.
- Personal injuries
- Deaths
- Property damages in excess of $1,000
- Driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driver without a license
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist
- Hit-and-run accident
Do not tell the police you caused the car accident. Also, do not tell them you have no injuries until you have seen a doctor. Your adrenaline from the wreck could be masking injury symptoms. Write down your police report number before leaving the scene. If your car accident in San Bernardino fulfills the first three standards on this list, you also must contact the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days to report the crash.
Collect Information and Photographs
Gather as much information about the car accident as possible before you leave. If you cannot stay because of your injuries, have someone you trust collect evidence for you. The police can record key information as well, such as the name of the other driver, his or her insurance information, and the names of eyewitnesses. If you can, take pictures of all damaged vehicles, a wide-angle shot of the entire crash scene, close-up shots of key details (such as skid marks on the ground) and your injuries.
Go to a Hospital in Riverside
Do not delay in receiving medical care for your car accident injuries. Go to Riverside Community Hospital, the Loma Linda University Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital or another local medical facility immediately after your car accident for treatment. Postponing care could not only be bad for you physically, but also hurt your insurance claim. Insurance companies check to see whether clients visit emergency centers right away as proof of serious injuries.
File an Insurance Claim
Once you have the other driver’s insurance information and have seen a doctor for your injuries, initiate the insurance claims process. Call the at-fault driver’s insurance company to file your claim as soon as possible. At-fault parties will be liable for damages according to California’s tort-based insurance system. When speaking to an insurance claims adjuster, stick to the truth without embellishing or making guesses as to fault. Do not agree to give the adjuster a recorded statement. Before you accept a fast settlement offer, talk to a car accident attorney about your case.
Gather Information
Prior to seeking assistance from a Riverside injury lawyer, create a file to keep all of your crash documentation organized in one place. Obtain copies of your pay stubs, insurance letters, medical records, x-rays, police reports, photographs, repair estimates, witness statements and anything else that is relevant to your claim. A lawyer will want to review this information during your free consultation to better understand your case.
Contact a Riverside Car Accident Attorney
Insurance companies want to pay as little as possible to claimants so that their investors can save money. This can result in lowball settlement offers that do not match the extent of your damages. Call a car accident attorney in Riverside after a collision in Riverside for a discussion about your case with a professional you can trust. An attorney will be honest with you about the value of your claim. An attorney can also help you negotiate for fair financial compensation during the insurance process.