The Barnes Firm

Car Accident Wasn’t My Fault! What Should I Do!?

• August 10, 2017
• Sandy

SAN DIEGO – There are over 16,000 car accidents every day, involving roughly 30,000 people. Many of these crashes are caused by distracted drivers, drunk drivers, and reckless drivers, but most multi-vehicle crashes have a victim.

That leaves thousands of people asking this question every day: the car accident wasn’t my fault, so what do I do?

IF YOU’RE INJURED

A San Diego Car Accident Lawyer at The Barnes Firm says thousands of people are injured by negligent drivers each day, and there are several steps to follow.

“First, you’ll want to make sure everyone is okay – if you’re injured, it’s important to get medical help as soon as possible in San Diego,” car accident attorney John Sheehan said. “Once you receive medical attention, it’s important to start thinking about the next steps.”

In many cases, car accident victims may not even know they’re injured until they start noticing pain days, or even weeks later. In any case, the medical bills and the costs associated with these injuries can add-up. That’s why San Diego car accident lawyers say the next steps are crucial.

“At The Barnes Firm, we’ll go over your case with you for free,” Sheehan said. “It’s a service we provide to help you make the most informed decision possible.”

Many insurance companies are fast to offer car accident victims a new vehicle, or partial compensation for medical bills. But signing a fast agreement with the insurance company may not be the wisest choice.

Insurance experts estimate they’ll be paying car accident victims four times more the moment a person hires a personal injury attorney.

“It’s no secret: the insurance company wants you to sign an agreement as soon as possible, because it could save them a lot of money,” Sheehan said. “If you have one of our San Diego car accident attorneys on your side, they’re going to fight for every dollar you deserve.”

Your attorney will fully investigate your accident and make sure all the paperwork you need is filed in a timely manner. The San Diego car accident lawyers at The Barnes Firm are also prepared to take your case to trial, if necessary. This preparation puts pressure on the insurance companies, and that pressure could help you get the best result possible.

IF YOU’RE UNINJURED

The process is similar if you’re uninjured. But in this case, your vehicle has taken the brunt of the damage (luckily it wasn’t your body).

Step 1: Check to make sure no one else is injured.

Step 2: Contact police. A police report can be an important piece of evidence.

Step 3: Gather evidence independently.

Evidence comes in many forms – from written statements to photos, the more information you have, the more prepared you’ll be.

Exchange insurance information with all other drivers involved. This information should include:

• Name
• Address
• Driver’s license number
• License plate number
• Owner of the vehicle
• Insurance company

Aside from talking to other drivers, there may have been witnesses to the accident. These witnesses can be just as important. Make sure you’re writing down statements and taking names and numbers for accuracy.

The Barnes Firm (800) 888-8888