What if I’m Involved In a Collision With an Uninsured Motorist?

Few things in life are as stressful as being involved in a car collision. But when the other driver doesn’t have insurance, the stress ratchets up yet another few notches.

What should you do? What can you do? You have medical bills to pay, car repairs to make and a life to get on with.

What steps should you take first and next after being involved in a collision with an uninsured motorist? And should you contact a personal injury lawyer? We answer all these questions and more here.

What to Do First After a Collision of Any Kind

These are the steps to take right away after being involved in any type of motor vehicle collision.

However, if you are injured in the collision and cannot complete these steps, your Los Angeles attorney can go to work to get the information on your behalf.

1. Tend to your own safety first.

The biggest priority after a collision is to stay in your vehicle and assess your injuries and that of any passengers who are with you.

Do not leave your vehicle until you have called 911 for anyone who needs emergency medical attention.

And do not leave your vehicle until it is safe to do so.

2. Call the police to ask for an accident report.

The very next thing to do is to call the police and ask for an officer to be dispatched to your location to fill out an accident report.

An accident report is a legal document that is admissible in any court of law. Your car accident attorney can use this document in front of a judge when negotiating for your settlement.

3. Exchange information with the other driver.

You want to keep this part very brief and polite. Simply exchange your contact and insurance information and then return to your vehicle to wait for the police officer to arrive.

If you find out at this stage that the other driver does not have insurance, remain calm.

Be sure to get all of their contact information, including full name, driver license, license plate number, make and model of the car, phone number and email address.

The personal injury law firm you choose can help you file a claim against the other driver directly.

4. Contact your own insurance provider immediately.

Next, you will want to reach out to your own insurance company immediately to start the process of filing your claim, since you may need medical attention right away and a loaner vehicle.

5. Record all of the details of the scene and the collision.

Now it is time to record everything you can remember about the scene, the events leading up to the collision and the accident itself.

You can do this on paper, via voice recorder app, with video and photographs and any other tools you happen to have handy.

Record the weather, the road conditions, the nearest intersections, the road signs and lights (if any), time of day, what the traffic was like and everything else you can remember.

This will be very helpful to your Los Angeles attorney when you meet to discuss the details of your case.

6. Take the statements of any witnesses who saw the collision.

Look around and notice if there are any witnesses who remained at the scene and might be willing to talk to you about what they observed.

Be very polite and let these people know how much they will help you if they are willing to share what they saw. Be sure to thank them for their time.

Take their statements and get their contact information. Your personal injury lawyer will want to follow up with them to ask them to be a witness on your behalf when filing your claim in court.

7. Get the police officer’s name, phone number and badge number.

Once you have completed these six important steps, chances are good the police officer will be on the scene and you can get to work giving information to help them complete the accident report.

Be sure to find out how to access your copy of the accident report and an estimated time frame by which it may be ready.

This document is free and is yours by right but you do need to know how to look up your case and download your copy. Your car accident attorney can do this for you while preparing your case.

8. Continue documenting your health in the next few days.

If this is the first time you have ever been in a car accident, you may not realize that some health symptoms such as whiplash can take time to show up.

It is important to keep monitoring your personal health. If you have any headaches, dizziness or other symptoms, these may be associated with the collision.

Seek medical attention promptly and keep detailed records of your doctor visits and health treatments. Your Los Angeles attorney will ask you for these receipts to help compile your case records.

How to Choose a Personal Injury Law Firm to Represent You

Once you have completed the prior eight steps, the next task ahead is to select your personal injury lawyer.

Do not worry if this is the first time you have ever needed the help of a personal injury law firm. This section will tell you exactly how to choose the right attorney to pursue your claim.

1. Make sure the lawyer specializes in collision cases.

There are as many branches of law as there are practicing lawyers. Just as you wouldn’t want your general practice doctor to do your root canal, you don’t want to choose a general practice attorney to pursue your collision claim.

You need a specialist who has deep knowledge and experience working with traffic law in the state of California.

2. Verify that the attorney is licensed to try cases in California.

Each state has its own process for lawyers who wish to practice law in that state. California is no exception.

Verify that the attorney you want to work with is licensed to practice in California.

3. Choose a lawyer who can see you right away as your case is time-sensitive.

Collision cases require immediate action since you have medical bills to pay and financial needs.

4. Make sure the first meeting is a free consultation.

Any reputable attorney will offer you a free initial consultation.

5. Read testimonials from other clients who worked with that attorney.

Be sure the lawyer gets good review from past clients.

Contact An Expert Car Accident Attorney Today

Being hurt in an auto accident can be a life-changing experience. The last thing you need is to get the runaround from the other party’s lawyers, the insurance companies and the medical profession when you are just trying to heal and get on with your life. We can help.

For a free, no-obligation consultation to find out what your case may be worth, contact West Coast Trial Lawyers for additional information.

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