Here are the top ten things you probably least want to hear after a car accident:
1. There are some very upset drivers waiting to talk to you.
2. You just caused more damage than all the other accidents in the county combined.
3. The other drivers want to know why you stopped in the middle of the road for no apparent reason.
4. We've determined who's at fault for the accident. Want to take a wild guess who?
5. The other drivers are drawing straws to see who gets to use a taser on you.
6. The other drivers are now forming into a mob.
7. Don't worry, we should be able to get you out of your vehicle before it explodes, that is unless one of those other drivers lights up a cigarette.
8. Just out of curiosity, what made you think you could go under that truck?
9. There's a doctor here, but he's one of the other drivers and he says he's too angry to treat you right now.
10 Congratulations. Your accident is going to be on a new reality program entitled, "Unbelievably dumb accidents."
There are however, ten things you can do if you have been in an accident in the San Bernardino CA area. To learn more about the steps you should take after an accident, we invite you to visit our web site at this link
San Bernardino Personal Injury Attorney and call us at any of the numbers you will find on our web site.
While some of these tips may be too late for you if your auto, car, motorcycle, truck, pedestrian or bicycle accident in San Bernardino was some hours or days ago, these tips may yet be useful for you in connection with your accident and for any future accidents you may have.
First, take a look around and determine if you or anyone else is hurt. If so, taking steps to prevent further injury or loss of blood are the most important thing you can do until help arrives. The worst thing you can do is get angry or start a fight.
Second, make sure everyone is safe from being injured further. If you are in the middle of traffic and can safely get out of the way, walk to where it is safe. If you aren't dizzy and can help others without risk to yourselves or risking injury to them, help them. If your vehicle is a hazard to others and you have warning devices such as triangles or flares you can safely place in the road, put them out on the road to warn other drivers and get away from any danger. Let the San Bernardino police or other emergency personnel investigate the scene with all the vehicles in place and let them move the vehicles at a later point.
Third, if no one else already has, call the local police or the California Highway Patrol or 911. Accident reports are extremely helpful if they will prepare one. Let the police know you are injured immediately. Answer all the questions honestly but if you are dazed or confused, let them know you need medical attention and answer only what you are certain about. Statements you make will later appear in the police report and if you make a mistake, it is unlikely a later statement will be believed over your initial statements as your best recollection is usually immediately after an accident.
If you've been involved in a personal injury or car accident in the San Bernardino area, visit our website at this link
San Bernardino Personal Injury Lawyer and call us at any of the numbers easily found on our website.
Fourth, obtain the other driver's information including their name, address, driver's license, make and model of their vehicle, license plate number, insurance company and policy number. If there are witnesses, obtain their information as well. If the other driver makes any admissions of fault, write them down as well. The police will likely separate you once they arrive so try to obtain this information while you can.
Fifth, if you have a camera or a cell phone with a camera built in, take some photos of the vehicles, the scene of the accident and the others involved. If you failed to do so immediately after the auto, car, motorcycle, truck, bicycle or pedestrian accident, take some now of the scene of the accident in San Bernardino or wherever it occurred and of your vehicle, if one was involved.
Sixth, if you are hurt, obtain medical treatment. Don't decline the ambulance or hospital examination to save your insurance company money or to be stoic if you have coverage. Take your valuables out of your vehicle and get checked out at the hospital. If you are not hurt, don't get treatment you don't need. However, remember, after an accident, you may feel a rush of adrenaline that causes your symptoms to go unnoticed by you until a few hours later. If you have a health plan that requires you to obtain permission before going anywhere for medical treatment, call them first to find out where you can go for treatment that is covered by them.
Seventh, call a good San Bernardino personal injury lawyer as soon as you have had your initial medical treatment so your personal injury attorney can gather important evidence and prevent the other party's insurance company from taking advantage of you by obtaining things such as a recorded statement from you. A good personal injury lawyer can save you from making mistakes and can shoulder much of the hassle that results from an accident. Your attorney can also advise you in connection with how to obtain vehicle repairs, a car rental, medical treatment on a lien, etc. Your personal injury attorney can almost always obtain higher settlements, obtain reductions of medical bills and insurance liens that have to be repaid. Most lawyers will also advance the costs of obtaining police reports, and medical records that are crucial to a good settlement.
Visit our website at this link
San Bernardino Personal Injury Attorney and call us if you have been injured in any type of vehicle or pedestrian accident in the San Bernardino California area.
Eighth, report the San Bernardino auto, car, motorcycle, truck, pedestrian or bicycle accident to your insurance company. However, before you do so, it is good advice to retain a personal injury lawyer first as even your own insurance company will want to take a recorded statement. If the other driver did not have insurance, remember, your own insurance company will be your adversary. You will also need to report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles and your attorney can provide you with the form.
Ninth, do not agree to settle your claim privately with the person at fault for the accident in San Bernardino or with their insurance company when they want to offer you a paltry amount before your injuries have been checked out or treated. Neither of these scenarios work to your advantage. Private individuals rarely want to pay you for anything more than your car repairs. And if you agree to not involve the police, the other driver may change his or her story and blame you later when the police are no longer willing to investigate the accident. Insurance companies offering a quick settlement are usually taking advantage of you at a time when you can least afford it.
Tenth, don't pay a traffic ticket without attempting to fight it if you weren't at fault and don't accept a small payment from the other driver for your vehicle repairs without knowing that the amount will in fact cover the entire cost of repairs.
If you've had a personal injury auto, bicycle, car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, or big rig accident or a dog bite in San Bernardino, or anywhere in Southern California, we have the resources and knowledge to be your San Bernardino personal injury lawyer and your San Bernardino accident attorney and will see that you are properly represented to obtain the compensation you deserve for your accident.
Click on this link to visit us at our web site
San Bernardino Personal Injury Lawyer and call us to learn how we can be of assistance to you after a personal injury accident in the San Bernardino area.
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