If you have been involved in an accident in Sacramento, California, then there are a few things that you need to make sure that you do. If you do not work hard to protect your right to compensation, then the person responsible for injuring you could get away unscathed, without punishment.
An accident in Sacramento is really no different from an accident anywhere else. You must protect your rights and fight for your right to compensation wherever you are in the world.
This article will explain what you should do after you are involved in an accident in Sacramento:
Contact the Emergency Services
If you have been injured in an accident, then you should contact the emergency services. If the accident is serious, then both the police and the ambulance service will attend. When the police arrive, they will take statements from witnesses about the accident. These statements can be very useful later on if you make a personal injury claim against the person responsible for the accident. If you wind up in the hospital, then you should ask the doctor who triages you for a letter explaining your injuries.
Visit Your Physician
After you are discharged from the hospital, then you should attend your physician’s office and request a medical certificate from them. This certificate will be similar to the triaging doctor’s medical letter, although it will probably be more detailed. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims varies, but it is generally around two years. By acquiring medical evidence immediately after your accident, you will be able to make a claim whenever you are ready to. If you do not have evidence from a healthcare professional at the time of the accident, you may not be able to claim when your injuries are healed.
Contacting An Attorney
You must contact an attorney if you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault so that you can receive compensation. There’s often a lot of confusion regarding who pays your medical bills after a car accident in Sacramento because it isn’t at all straightforward. In an article published by the Demas Law Group, they explain that the at-fault driver doesn’t have to pay for your medical care unless you can prove that they were responsible for the accident. With this in mind, you need to find a respectable attorney to represent you, so that you don’t get lumped with a hefty medical bill.
Video Evidence
Video footage that is taken on the scene of an accident can be very useful, especially if a case goes to court. After your accident has taken place and assuming that you are not seriously injured, take your phone out and film as much as you can. You should film the person responsible for your accident so that they can be found later on if they leave the scene. Video evidence is very effective, so try to remember to get some.
The Person’s Details
You also need to make sure that you take the contact information of the person who was responsible for the accident. If you do not have their contact information then you will not be able to make a personal injury claim. Your lawyer will need their information so that they can contact their insurance company. If the police attend the scene, then they will probably give you the person’s information after they have spoken to them and taken a statement. Make sure to get video footage of the person as we mentioned previously, just in case they give you a fake name or flee from the scene.
Other Evidence
It is also worth acquiring other evidence, such as witness statements and CCTV. If your accident took place in a busy, built-up area, then you shouldn’t have any difficulty finding somebody who saw it. You should also be able to acquire CCTV footage, which you may have to pay for. The more evidence that you get, the stronger your case will be. Remember: the other person responsible will have their own attorney, and will be arguing against all of your claims. Evidence is crucial with this in mind.
Recovery
After an accident, you need to recover. Accidents can cause significant emotional distress. If you are seriously injured, then emotional distress combined with your physical injuries could be very hard to manage. Take time off from work if necessary, relax, and let your attorney do all of the work for you.
Accidents can be incredibly complicated, especially if you have never been involved in one before. Follow this article’s advice and you should receive compensation, which is the most important thing for a successful and speedy recovery.