Tips From a San Gabriel Personal Injury Lawyer

No one wants to get into an accident. It can lead to broken bones, a totaled car, and loss of wages. All this combined can put anyone in a tough financial spot. If you ever find yourself in a money pinch after an accident because of a major injury, contacting Vaziri Law to meet with a personal injury lawyer in San Gabriel  can go a long way toward helping you get the compensation you deserve.  

Document Everything 

When reporting an accident, it’s important to collect as much information as you can. The more details you have to offer your insurance company and your lawyer, the easier it will be to provide a clear timeline for your case. Here are some things you should document if you find yourself in an accident: 

Police Report – Not every accident requires the police, but it would be a great help in establishing the scene and making sure that the events are preserved via official paperwork.  

Video/Photos – Taking photos and keeping videos of the scene is also a great way to keep everyone’s stories straight. The more evidence of the scene, the better. It allows your San Gabriel personal injury lawyer to confidently argue on your behalf with supporting imagery.  

Witnesses – If there are witnesses at your accident, it’s a good idea to collect their information and take their eyewitness statements. Witnesses can offer different perspectives and can potentially offer more information.  

Other Party’s Information – In every accident, it’s necessary to trade contact and insurance information with the other party. When doing this, also note how many people were in their car to report it to your insurance company. If the other party wasn’t insured or had insufficient insurance coverage, a San Gabriel personal injury lawyer can help you claim coverage from your own policy as well. 

Keep Quiet 

If you’ve been involved in an accident, any lawyer will tell you to avoid posting it on social media or giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters. This is to protect you from other parties involved in investigating the case spinning your posts or words to reframe the accident. If you post about the accident before the case closes, you put yourself at risk of getting your posts and your responses used against you. Even if you weren’t at fault, it’s best to keep quiet to avoid losing any credibility in the eyes of the court.  

Go to the Doctor 

Getting a check-up immediately after an accident is a good way to verify if there wasn’t any invisible damage done to you. This can include injuries like:  

Head – These are common injuries. Fortunately, many cases of head injuries can be mild, but to avoid the risk of developing a concussion or other brain injuries, it’s best to visit a doctor. 

Spinal Injury – These injuries require immediate medical attention. If you leave a spinal injury to develop, you may end up paralyzed, with muscle atrophy, or even with bladder incontinence, depending on the severity of the injury. 

Whiplash —  This is one of the most common injuries in a car accident. Normally, it recovers on its own over a few weeks. Sometimes, it can take longer or develop into a more serious neck and soft tissue injury. Better safe than sorry. 

Broken Bones – There are 17 ways to classify a broken bone. Some are minor that require time to mend on their own, and others require extensive surgery. If you suspect a broken bone, go visit a doctor for an x-ray.  

PTSD – Car crashes can be traumatic. It’s normal to feel nervous when driving after getting into an accident. However, if the very thought of driving begins to affect you in more serious ways, it’s best to be in contact with a professional. Keep a journal of your experiences after the car accident as well. This can help your medical team best treat you. It can also help your legal team make a case for your mental distress in court.  

Organ Damage – This could happen if your organ suffered a puncture wound or blunt force trauma. While the most common organs to be affected in a car crash are the ones around the stomach, any organ can experience severe damage in an accident. It’s best to get yourself checked out to make sure you don’t have an invisible injury.  

Receiving doctor’s notes and keeping a record of any medical tests, receipts, specialist visits all go a long way in helping make your case more viable to your insurance company and to the court.  

Meeting with a Lawyer 

Once you’ve reported the accident to your insurance company, get in contact with a lawyer, like those at Vaziri Law. Don’t worry, consultations are typically free and give you a chance to interview a potential lawyer before hiring them for your case. At a consultation, a lawyer will listen to what you have to say about your situation and discuss how much compensation you could claim, their method for bringing your case, and next steps for filing a claim. If you have a case, a personal injury lawyer in San Gabriel can take begin working your case. Talking to a San Gabriel personal injury lawyer early can help strengthen your chances of preserving evidence like street footage around the time of your accident before it’s overwritten or forgotten.  

Do NOT Wait Too Long 

In California, you have 2 years to file a personal injury claim. San Gabriel injury attorneys recommend filing as soon as possible after an accident, though. If you wait too long to file, you run the risk of losing evidence, witness statements, getting your case dismissed, and/or lowering your chances of settlement.  

In Your Best Interest  

You don’t always need a lawyer, but if you do, it’s best to come prepared. If you want the best results, meet with a San Gabirel personal injury lawyer sooner rather than later to understand your rights. Provide all the information you can to help your lawyer get you the best possible results.