Injured in a Car Accident in El Segundo? Your Legal Rights and Next Steps
In 2022, 111 victims died or were injured in a car accident in El Segundo. Many of those were injured or killed due to the negligence of another driver. When someone else is responsible for your accident and your injuries, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical expenses, damaged property, and other losses incurred from the accident.
What to Do if You Are Injured in a Car Accident in El Segundo
The moments following your accident are crucial, despite being overwhelming, chaotic, and scary. What you do or don’t do during the first few minutes after a collision can impact your ability to file a personal injury claim to compensate for your losses. In California, there are laws you must follow that dictate what you should do after an accident occurs. If these laws are not properly obeyed, you risk forfeiting your right to collect a settlement altogether.
Insurance companies look for every mistake you could have possibly made to justify denying your insurance claim. Paying attention to your actions and your words following an accident is important.
If you are injured in a car accident in El Segundo, the first thing you should do is stop. Do not leave the scene. Leaving the scene of the accident can result in serious consequences and criminal charges against you. These charges can result in jail time if you are convicted.
If the accident resulted in significant damages or potential injuries, you must call the police immediately. If you’re not sure of the injuries or the severity of the damage, call the police anyway and report the incident to 911. Have your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance policy documents and details available.
Also, be prepared to give the dispatcher your location, the number of vehicles involved, details on any potentially injured parties, and other important information.
Move your car off the road if it is blocking traffic when it is safe to do so. When emergency services and law-enforcement authorities arrive, deliver the facts about the accident and avoid making subjective statements, accusations, or admissions of guilt. The investigation conducted by the police and by the insurance company will determine the cause and liability of the accident. If any party was negligent, that will also be revealed.
Document the accident site by taking pictures and videos of the scene, and exchange contact information with witnesses and other drivers and passengers involved in the accident. Get their driver’s license and insurance numbers. Take photographs of their license plates and of their vehicles, as well as any damage to their vehicles.
Do not accept any offers for cash payments to cover damages from an at-fault driver or preliminary settlement offers from insurance providers. Politely decline to discuss and defer these conversations to your attorney. An accident attorney is ideal for insurance claim negotiations because they are skilled and experienced in talking to adjusters.
Accepting any type of monetary exchange could potentially interfere with your ability to collect a personal injury settlement later on. You can also jeopardize your chances for a successful personal injury claim by agreeing not to report the accident. If anyone asks you not to call the police or not to report your accident, explain that California law requires you to inform the police of the collision.
Keep in mind that the California DMV requires anyone involved in an accident that causes more than $1,000 in damages or results in any injuries or fatalities to notify the DMV of the collision within 10 days of the accident. If you do not report the accident to the DMV, you can potentially lose your driving privileges.
To request a copy of the police report for your records, contact the El Segundo Police Record Section at (310)-524-2200, Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. El Segundo police reports, incident reports, and accident reports are provided at the cost of $.20 per page plus tax. Records are only released to authorized individuals.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Most Common Injury From a Car Crash in El Segundo, CA?
A: There are a number of common injuries that occur frequently in people who are injured in car accidents in El Segundo, CA. These include head, neck, and chest trauma; severe spinal cord damage, particularly in frontal collisions; organ damage in T-bone accidents; and fractures to the neck, pelvis, and skull.
Q: Can You Sue for Back Pain After a Car Accident?
A: If an injury that is causing you back pain is the result of a car accident, you can file a claim against the other driver for back pain if the other driver was found at fault for the accident. In order to sue someone for personal injury, there must be negligence on their part. There is a statute of limitations in California that prevents personal injury claims from being filed after two years after the date of the injury.
Q: How Do You Prove Back Pain From a Car Accident?
A: To prove back pain from a car accident, you will need medical records, medical receipts for doctor visits, pharmacy records, and X-rays. A statement from one or more doctors validating that the back pain is a result of an injury that occurred from the car accident and was not present prior to the accident can also be helpful in proving back pain resulting from a car accident.
Q: Should I Say I Was Injured in a Car Accident?
A: You should not say you are or are not injured in a car accident immediately after the collision occurs. Adrenaline can mask symptoms of injury, and sometimes, pain from car accident injuries doesn’t show up right away. Get checked out by a medical professional, and do not make any confirmed claims regarding your injuries. If medical professionals have confirmed you were not injured, you shouldn’t say you were just for the sake of a potential settlement. Technically, that is insurance fraud.
Get Legal Help With Your Claim
Insurance companies are experienced in finding ways to minimize settlements or deny claims altogether, which is why preparing your case with the proper documentation and evidence is essential to support your case. You can almost guarantee that your insurance company will want to see the police report, quotes on repair estimates, medical records, photographs, and witness statements gathered at the accident or thereafter.
An experienced car accident attorney from Shaffer Law can help you prepare your evidence and assist in the legal process if you were injured in a car accident in El Segundo. Contact Shaffer Law to discuss your case in detail.
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