What to Do after a Car Accident in Los Angeles, CA

If you drive in the Los Angeles area, you might find yourself involved in a car accident and suddenly in need of researching car accident lawyers in Los Angeles, CA. The fact that there are so many commercial and noncommercial drivers on the road in the state increases the risk of serious accidents. Many factors can be in play when a collision occurs. Not the least of these are incidences of driver negligence, such as speeding and drunk driving.

California is an at-fault state in terms of car insurance. This means that whoever caused an accident is responsible for compensating the others involved for any injuries or property damage. Given this potential liability, it's very important to know what to do should you be involved in a car accident in Los Angeles.

In this blog, we'll lay out some of the traffic problem areas in Los Angeles, along with some accident statistics. We'll also summarize some of the California rules on what you must do if you are in a crash, and then conclude with some important steps that may strengthen any claim, should you decide to make one, related to the accident.

Traffic Problem Areas in Los Angeles

According to Moneygeek, the two most dangerous locations in the city for accidents are the Downtown and South Central areas. The Downtown intersections experienced 937 accidents with injuries or fatalities between 2020 and 2022. South Central had four of the five most dangerous intersections during that period. The city as a whole has 86 intersections where more than 10 accidents involving injuries or deaths occurred in that span. Statistics like these point to the greater likelihood of you having an accident in the country's sixth-worst location in terms of traffic congestion. This makes it all the more important for you to know and understand what the state rules are should you be involved in a vehicle collision in Los Angeles.

Special Car Crash Rules in Los Angeles

If you get into a car collision in California, you must report it to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) using Form SR-1. In fact, many Golden State drivers must report accidents twice.

• When reporting accidents to the DMV, any accidents where injuries or more than $1,000 of property damage are involved will go on your driving record.
• Drivers must report injury accidents to the local police or the California Highway Patrol within 24 hours. Any injury, even a sore neck, triggers this reporting requirement.

However, these rules don't apply if an emergency responder is at the scene and files an accident report.

Depending on their policy requirements, California drivers may also need to report accidents to their insurance companies. Here are some useful tips for how to deal with insurance firms after an accident.

What to Do at the Scene of a Los Angeles Car Accident

We hope you never experience an accident in Los Angeles. If you do, however, here are steps to help you:

• First, check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 immediately if anyone needs help.
• Next, if possible, move your vehicle out of traffic to a safe location.
• If your car can't be driven, call for roadside assistance.
• Be sure to get the contact information from everyone involved. This is especially critical if you decide to hire a car accident lawyer. At a minimum, make sure you have the other driver's name and contact information along with their insurance policy number and a phone number for reporting claims. Also, write down a description of the other car and its license plate number.
• If possible, take pictures of and make notes about everything at the scene. This is also important if you intend to take legal action.
• See a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. The symptoms from certain injuries like concussions or other brain injuries may not show up right away. Also, if you file a claim and the case goes to court, not seeing a doctor promptly could have a legal impact. If you delay treatment, insurance company lawyers might argue that your injuries weren’t that serious.

Should You Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA?

If you are in a car collision in Los Angeles, the insurance adjusters will need to know your story. In addition, if there are injuries, medical bills must be paid. Accident lawyers in Los Angeles, CA excel in providing help in both these areas.

Accident victims usually give their official statements during semi-formal depositions, which happen relatively late in the litigation process. By that time, all the evidence is clear and attorneys can carefully work with the victims prior to their testimony. At the deposition, a lawyer controls the pace of questioning and can make legal objections. Furthermore, if an insurance company lawyer tries to trick the person making a claim, that person's attorney is right there to help.

Attorneys also negotiate with medical providers to reduce their fees. These reductions can allow accident victims to keep more of their settlement money under California’s collateral source rule.

Another important point to make here is that California is a pure comparative fault jurisdiction. This means that even if a driver is almost entirely at fault for a wreck, he or she may still be able to receive substantial compensation.

If you have an accident in Los Angeles, don't go through the legal process alone. To find a top lawyer to support you during the entire claims process, reach out to Accident.com today.