Hercules, CA Car Accident Lawyer

Yes! Eyewitnesses often provide the most important elements of what happened leading up to and during an accident, while police and other first responders nearly always arrive after the fact. Further, the police do not always get statements from every available witness, and seldom take any statements when they believe the accident caused no, or very minor, injuries. But the police are not medical professionals, and just because they see no injury doesn’t mean you don’t have an injury. Remember, witnesses may be critical to the outcome of your case. Try to get the names and contact information from all witnesses for your own records – don’t just rely on the first responders.

No, you should not expect that they will do so. Unless an accident is considered major – involving major injuries and possibly death, the police seldom do any kind of scene investigation, except to get some statements, and then usually from only a few witnesses, if that. If you are able to take your own photos or have someone else do so, such evidence can make a real difference in how an insurance company can be convinced to reconsider their initial snap-judgments about the incident. Be sure to get both close-ups of damage, and wider scene photos from as many angles as possible. If the accident happens at night, try to take photos of the lighting conditions, as this may have been a factor in the accident. Be sure you or your friend has the time/date stamp feature enabled on the camera.

This depends on whether you actually are injured or not. Take some time before exiting your vehicle after the collision, unless there is a danger of fire. Many soft-tissue injuries do not immediately make themselves felt, so spend a few minutes assessing how you feel. Did your neck snap back and forth during the collision? Were you thrown to the side? Did your airbag deploy with such force that you feel winded or dizzy? Many injuries begin from the kinds of violent jerks and twists that a hard impact can cause. And they may not make themselves felt for days or weeks. You also need to know that in many locales, the police will not even write a report of the accident if they feel no one was injured. And this can have a negative effect on how your or the other driver’s insurance company responds to any claims.

Yes, the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is a requirement that anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident – regardless of fault – file an SR-1 form with the California Department of Motor Vehicles – “California law requires traffic accidents on a California street/highway or private property to be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 10 days if there was an injury, death or property damage in excess of $750. Untimely reporting could result in DMV suspending a driver license.” The SR-1 form is available to download from the California DMV website at https://apps.dmv.ca.gov/forms/sr/sr1.pdf

Their name, driver’s license, address, phone, insurance policy information. And write down any statements they make about the accident, regardless of whether they take responsibility for the accident or not.

Yes, it is always a good idea to contact a Hercules, CA attorney as soon after an accident as possible. A Hercules attorney can begin the process of investigating the accident, contacting witnesses and obtaining statements, and following up with your and the other driver’s insurance companies promptly and in a manner that can assure better responsiveness from the insurance companies. An attorney can also make sure that photos of both or all vehicles are preserved or taken in the first place. Such photos can help to fully establish fault. Trying to handle it yourself might put you in a situation where you cannot later contest the insurance company’s decisions. Be sure to never sign any release from the insurance company until you have first had an attorney look at the entire issue.