After a Car Accident in or Near San Jose
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, there are also critical legal and financial matters to pay close attention to following an accident.
The Law Office of John J. Garvey, III, has more than 35 years' experience representing car accident victims in California. Sometimes we are asked by various sources for advice on what to do after an auto accident. Following is a rough checklist that can help an auto accident victim and his or her family to move as smoothly as possible toward a successful recovery.
Call 911 · Get Medical Help · Prevent Secondary Crashes
First of all, if possible, call for help. If you can do so, move crashed vehicles out of lanes of traffic to prevent secondary crashes. If this is not possible, then do your best to remove injury victims from the car if you do not perceive risk of spinal cord injury. Cars sometimes catch fire and burn injury victims are trapped inside after a fuel tank rupture. This is a very dangerous situation. Trained emergency responders are best qualified to decide how best to protect anyone from further injury.
A phone call to 911 should bring an ambulance to the scene as well as police and a fire truck, depending on the circumstances. The injured victim or victims should be evaluated and treated by paramedics and taken to a hospital emergency room as soon as possible.
Cooperate With Police
Police will want to ask questions at the scene of the accident in order to complete an accident report. Be truthful and cooperative with the police at this time.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You should report the accident to your insurance company right away, too — but you should not make statements to them or to another motorist's insurer until you have discussed the accident with your lawyer.
Once your car accident attorney is on board, follow his or her advice for best results regarding compensation that you need to cope with medical bills, loss of wages and pain and suffering.
Preserve Evidence Before It Disappears
Your San Jose auto accident attorney will ask you to preserve any evidence that you can such as photos, names and contact information for eyewitnesses, and access to the crashed vehicle. Get the name of the salvage lot where the car will be towed, and communicate with management at that lot to ensure that the car will not be altered, removed or destroyed before your attorney can advise you about how it might be needed as evidence.
Get Legal Advice Promptly
For more specific instructions on how to proceed after your San Francisco Bay area car, truck or motorcycle accident, talk to an experienced San Jose auto accident attorney.
A San Jose Auto Accident Attorney Working to Get Compensation for Accident Victims
Whatever the cause of an accident, severe injuries cause pain, suffering and expense to a victim and usually a family as well. You need someone on your side to help obtain the compensation you need after an accidental injury. Contact our San Jose law office after a car, truck or slip and fall accident. Call us today to schedule a free initial consultation. Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis (no recovery, no fee).
