First Steps After a Crash

Car Accidents, Ventura Injury Blog

Were you or a loved one recently involved in a motor vehicle accident and want to know what should be your first steps after a crash? Our experienced Ventura car accident lawyer discusses everything you need to know to ensure you have a solid and successful personal injury claim. Contact our office today for a free consultation.

First Steps After a Crash | Do Not Leave the Scene

Your instinct might be to rush out and apologize, or even get angry at whoever hit you. Maybe you’ve already fished out your phone and started dialing 911. What you should not do is take off and leave the scene for any reason, especially if you or the other driver has been seriously hurt. After making sure you are a safe distance from any hazards including oncoming traffic or potential vehicle fires, getting medical professionals on the scene should be your first priority. If the other driver or drivers are hurt and cannot get themselves in a safe area, help them as best you can so long as they are not too severely injured. You could potentially injure them further if you try to move them and they are badly hurt. It is best to wait for emergency response teams to do this safely and professionally.

First Steps After a Crash | Call 911 and Gather Evidence

You can then make the calls to 911 if you haven’t already and wait for the Ventura police department, fire department, or ambulance to arrive. If you are trapped in your car or are too severely injured to call 911, ask someone close by to make the call on your behalf. It is important to have a bystander assist you during these first moments if you cannot do so yourself. If you do not have the opportunity to do so yourself because of debilitating injuries, ask a bystander to help you take photographic evidence of the scene. This can include pictures and videos of the cars, the road, any skid marks, as well as a video of the entirety of the scene. These should be as detailed as possible. Take as many pictures and videos as you can. This can be critical evidence.

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If you do enlist the help of a bystander, be sure to get their name and information as it may be helpful to you later on. If there are witnesses, you should make sure you also get their information as well. Gather all the names and contact information of anyone who may be able to provide key information about the accident later on. All of this is extremely invaluable information that could make or break your case. When the police arrive, they will ask as usual for your name, license plate number, registration, and insurance information. If you are not badly hurt, gather this information for them when they do show up.

If you are seeking compensation for an injury you sustained in a car accident, please contact our experienced Ventura car accident lawyer today to arrange a free consultation.