What To Do After a Car Accident in San Diego

Car wrecks are traumatic experiences that can leave victims in a state of shock and confusion about their next steps. This includes car accidents that take place in San Diego, CA. Nonetheless, the moments immediately following the accident and in the days and weeks following it can directly impact your right to recover compensation and how much you can recover. 

The dedicated San Diego car accident lawyers of Mission Personal Injury Lawyers describe the steps you should take after your accident. If you have any questions, you can call or text us for a free, no-obligation consultation at (619) 777-5555.

How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Car Accident Claim in San Diego 

How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Car Accident Claim in San Diego 

Car accidents are common, and San Diego, California, is no exception. After you’ve been involved in a crash that was caused by someone else, you deserve to be made whole again.

While you focus on recovering from the harm you have suffered, Mission Personal Injury Lawyers will work hard to collect compensation on your behalf. Our San Diego car accident attorneys have over 43 years of combined experience, and we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients. 

Hiring us means you’ll have a legal team to take care of all the paperwork, communications, and negotiations regarding your case. We’ll also have the ability to file a lawsuit and bring your case to court – even all the way to trial in front of a San Diego County jury – if necessary.

Call our personal injury law firm today to learn more or to set up your free case review. In the meantime, read on to learn about what to do immediately after a car accident in San Diego.

Get to Safety

The first thing you need to do is get to a safe place. If your vehicle is in a dangerous position that can lead to subsequent accidents, move your vehicle to the side of the road or the nearest safe location. Activate your hazard lights and use any traffic cones or flares you have to alert other motorists to the wreck. If it is safe to do so, remain in your vehicle until authorities respond to the accident.

Report the San Diego Accident

In California, you must report any accident you are involved in that results in:

If anyone was injured in the accident, be sure to request an ambulance so they can be stabilized and taken promptly to the emergency room.

Besides being the law, reporting the accident can also protect your rights because a law enforcement officer can respond to the accident scene, conduct a preliminary investigation, and prepare an objective report you can use to bolster your claim.

When talking to the law enforcement officer, stick to the facts. Don’t try to blame the other driver or accept any responsibility for it yourself. Try to avoid giving an opinion about what might have caused the accident. Ask the law enforcement officer how to get a copy of the report once it is prepared.

Exchange Information

You will need some information from the other driver to make an insurance claim, including:

  • Their name, address, and telephone number
  • A description of their vehicle, including its make, model, and license plate number
  • Their insurance information
  • Their driver’s license number
  • Their employer’s name and contact information if they were driving a company vehicle at the time of the accident

If the driver was working for a company, their employer might be responsible for the accident. If they are a rideshare driver, they may have additional insurance you can turn to for coverage for the accident.

Talk to Witnesses in San Diego, California

If any witnesses observed the accident and stayed at the scene, ask them for their names and contact information. Your lawyer can follow up with them later. Objective witness statements can go a long way in proving the accident occurred the way you said it did in case the other driver’s version of events differs from yours. 

Photograph the San Diego Scene

If it is safe to do so, take pictures of the accident scene. Your smartphone can work just fine. Take pictures of the vehicles involved in the accident, including close-up shots of the locations where the vehicles collided. Also, take pictures of the road, any damage to nearby property, and any debris on the roadway, such as tire tread or broken lights. Take pictures of surrounding buildings, street lights, stop signs, and anywhere there may have been a camera. Also, take pictures of the direction both vehicles were traveling in. Take pictures from different angles to paint the story of how the accident occurred. 

Seek Medical Care in San Diego

If you were not taken immediately to the emergency room after the accident, seek medical care if you start experiencing symptoms of injury. Sometimes, the adrenaline that surges after an accident can mask injury symptoms. Documenting your injuries can help you show the link between them and your accident and further support your claim.

Contact an Experienced San Diego, CA Car Crash Lawyer

Finally, you should contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can help you with your next steps and protect your rights. They can also focus on the legal aspects of your claim so you can focus on your recovery. 

Mission Personal Injury Lawyers has a long history of helping accident victims in San Diego. If someone else’s negligence caused injuries to you, you shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden. You deserve full and fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. Our advocates are ready to fight for you.

Our compassionate San Diego car accident lawyers can file a claim with the insurance company, ensure you receive quality medical care, and act as your advocate throughout the claims process.

We can answer any questions you have during a free consultation. Contact us today to get started.

Common San Diego Car Accident Claims We Handle

Our law firm handles all types of car accident cases involving:

San Diego Car Accident Resources