What to Do After an Auto Accident in San Jose, CA

Taking the Right Steps with a Skilled San Jose Car Accident Attorney

A car accident is a shocking, frightening, and painful experience in many cases. Whether injuries are mild, severe, or catastrophic, it is important to keep the health and well-being of any injury victim at the forefront. Besides medical considerations, however, there are also critical legal and financial matters to address carefully following an accident.

The Law Office of John J. Garvey, III has more than 45 years of experience representing car accident victims in California. Sometimes, we are asked by our clients or others for advice on what to do after an auto accident. The following is a checklist that can help an auto accident victim and his or her family protect their rights after a collision. Following these steps will help a person ensure that they will be able to receive the proper treatment, address their losses and damages, and pursue compensation from the responsible party or parties.

20 Things to Do After an Auto Accident

1. Call 911.
2. Emergency services will send medical help to the scene, including an ambulance, paramedics, police, and fire services.
3. Victims should be evaluated and treated by paramedics.
4. Living victims who need immediate treatment for serious injuries should be rushed to an emergency room.
5. While the first responders are examining the scene and treating the victims, steps should be taken to prevent secondary crashes.
6. Move any vehicles that are in traffic lanes to ensure that other vehicles can pass by safely.
7. In order to protect victims from possible gas tank fires or explosions, remove them from vehicles that have been damaged.
8. If possible, do not move a victim if there is a suspicion that they have suffered a spinal cord injury.
9. Cooperate with the police, answering questions about what happened and providing all requested information.
10. Complete an accident report.
11. Document evidence relating to the accident with photos or videos. Make sure to capture damage to vehicles, skid marks, traffic signs and signals, road conditions, and injuries.
12. Get the names and addresses of witnesses.
13. Contact your own insurance company but…
14. Do not make any on-the-record statements about what happened or who was at fault.
15. Do not make a statement to anyone else's insurer, and do not sign off on any settlement they offer.
16. Contact us to arrange a consultation to discuss the accident with our attorney.
17. Follow your attorney's advice.
18. Be aware that you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.
19. Insist on access to a crashed vehicle, even if has been towed to a wrecking yard.
    
20. Impress upon wrecking yard managers that the car is not to be altered, removed, or destroyed before our attorney can examine it. It may be needed as evidence.

Contact Our Santa Clara County Car Accident Lawyer for Prompt Legal Advice

For more specific instructions on how to proceed after your San Francisco Bay Area auto accident, talk to an experienced San Jose car accident lawyer. Attorney John J. Garvey can provide guidance on how to proceed following your accident. He can investigate the accident, gather evidence to establish liability, speak to insurance companies on your behalf, negotiate settlements, and work with you to take legal action to collect compensation for your injuries and damages. Contact us to arrange your free initial consultation. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis (no fees will be required if we do not recover compensation for you). Call 408-293-7777 today to set up an appointment at our office, your home, a hospital room, or another convenient location.