According to NHAI statistics, the US records around 6 million accidents on average every year. No matter how careful a driver you are, you cannot eliminate the risk of a car accident when driving on the highways and in the cities.
Oakland is one of the busiest cities in California, with a population of 425000. The city has many dangerous intersections that have become common places for accidents. A car accident is a devastating incident that can give you a helpless feeling.
If you are involved in a car accident, you need to hire an Oakland car accident lawyer to protect your interests and file a personal injury claim. Here are the five steps you can’t skip after a car accident in Oakland.
1. Immediately After Accident
It is a crime to flee away from the accident scene even if you are not at fault. So, it would help if you stayed at the accident scene until the police arrived. If you can pull your vehicle, drive it to a safe place on the roadside. Switch off your car to reduce the risk of fire hazards.
Calm down and take stock of the situation. Check for your injuries. If you have suffered severe injuries, don’t move. Wait for the emergency services to arrive at the accident scene. You can also call an Oakland car accident lawyer and seek guidance regarding filing a personal injury claim.
2. Safety
As per 2019 car accident data, Oakland, CA recorded 29 fatal accidents, and 32 people lost their lives. Safety should be your priority after a car accident. Stay off the road. If there are fuel spills or leakages at the accident scene, ask everyone involved in the accident to move away to a safer place on the roadsides.
3. Collect Data
Information is king in personal injury claims. If you have consulted a car accident lawyer, they might send a team of professionals to collect data from the accident scene. While the professionals arrive at the scene, you can collect information useful to file a personal injury claim. Here is the data you need to collect.
Other Driver Information
- Full name and address
- Driving license numbers
- Insurance details
1. Dealing with Difficult People
As per California Laws, you are required to report the accident to the insurance company within ten days. If the vehicle you were traveling in belongs to the employer, you need to report the accident to the employer within five days.
If people, including the other driver, are not cooperating and not sharing insurance details, take a photo of the car, license plate, and the driver and call the police. You need to also report the accident to DMV authorities, even if it is a hit-and-run case. Failing to report the accident can lead to suspension of your driving privilege.
2. Aftercare
As per 2017 car crash data, around ten pedestrians were severely injured in car accidents. Even if you are not severely injured, you need to get admitted to the hospital for a thorough medical checkup to rule out any internal injuries. You can seek the advice of your car accident lawyer to file a personal injury claim while you recover from injuries.
To sum up, these are five steps you should never skip if you are involved in a car accident in Oakland, California.
