Motorists across California — especially those who travel throughout the San Fernando Valley — know that there is the potential to be involved in a crash nearly every time they are out on area roads. When it happens, most people have never had to think through what comes next. The steps below are the order of operations we walk clients through, and the reasoning behind each one.
First: health, then the record
- Get to safety and call 911. If anyone may be injured, ask for paramedics — some serious injuries, including whiplash and concussions, do not announce themselves at the scene.
- Let the police document the collision. A traffic collision report becomes the backbone of the factual record.
- Photograph everything you safely can: vehicle positions, damage, skid marks, the roadway, traffic controls, and visible injuries.
- Exchange information with every driver involved, and get names and phone numbers for witnesses before they drive away.
- See a doctor promptly — and follow through on the treatment plan. Gaps in care are one of the first things insurers point to.
What not to do
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company before you have spoken with an attorney, and be careful about what you post publicly while your claim is open. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that shade fault toward you, and casual answers — "I'm fine," "I didn't see them" — have a way of resurfacing months later.
We have seen firsthand how insurers act, and we pledge to do everything in our power to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Why timing matters
Evidence has a short shelf life. Intersection cameras overwrite their footage, vehicles get repaired or salvaged, and witness memories fade. The earlier an attorney can begin preserving the record, the stronger your position when negotiations start. At our firm, our attorneys work together as a team to develop a strategy that fights back against insurance companies that are trying to make your life more difficult.
You may have talked to other law firms and have been told that you do not have a case. Even if another firm has turned your case down, we would like the opportunity to discuss how we can help you. There may be options available that allow us to seek recovery on your behalf — and there are no upfront costs to you to discuss your case.