If a negligent driver caused your low impact car accident, you're entitled to compensation for your injuries under California law. However, our San Diego car accident attorney explains, you may have a more difficult time convincing their insurance company of the seriousness of your injuries if your vehicle suffered little or no damage.
It's crucial to take immediate steps to protect your legal rights. Here's what you need to build a winning case against the at-fault driver.
Call the Police
Call 911 at the accident scene and wait for the police to arrive. An officer will conduct an investigation and write a police report with helpful details for your case, such as a narrative of how the accident occurred, who was at fault, and any traffic citations issued. This can help you prove that the crash occurred and the other driver’s negligence in causing it.
Get Medical Care
It's critical to be examined by a doctor within 48 hours of your low-impact car accident, even if you don't believe you were hurt. Many injuries caused in this type of crash—such as whiplash, blunt force trauma, concussions, and spinal cord injuries—are surprisingly serious, but the symptoms could take days or weeks to develop.
Getting prompt medical care protects your health. And with documentation from your attending physician, you also avoid potential disputes with the insurance company about what caused your injuries and how serious they are.
Preserve Evidence
If you or someone else can collect evidence at the collision scene, this information helps secure your case. Here's what you need to do:
- Get contact information for the other driver and their insurance company.
- Take pictures of the crash scene, damage to the vehicles, your injuries, and anything else you believe may be helpful.
- Collect the contact information for any eyewitnesses to the crash so their statements can be taken before their memories fade and while you still know where to reach them.