Car Accidents

Car Accident

Car accidents happen every day. You can be the top notch driver and never been in an accident before - it does not guarantee you anything. We take this risk every time we get behind the wheel and danger comes from every intersection or regular street, danger caused by negligent drivers. They disregard the rules, they run the red lights and they text. Of course there are many other things that cause the collision such as drunk driving, unsecured personal items falling off the pickup trucks in the middle of the busy freeway, bicycle mounts failure which causes the bikes to fly off the car and land right in front of the following driver. Even a random person running across the road may cause a catastrophic event. Being involved in a vehicle collision is never a great experience.

If you got involved in a car accident and you need help - contact our office at Amerberg Law Group.

We have the best car accident attorneys in California who will review the details of your accident immediately and provide you with professional help in determining whose fault it is. The full compensation will be pursued on your behalf in the most legit manner.

Choose to win. Choose Amerberg Law Group.

What is an accident?

A traffic accident is an event that occurred during movement of a vehicle on a road and with its participation, in which people were injured or killed and vehicles, structures and property were damaged or other material damage was caused.

Accident causes

Let’s take a look at the most common ones:

• Speeding
• Driving under the influence
• Lane splitting
• Sudden stops
• Inexperienced drivers
• Left turn accidents
• Dangerous road conditions
• Vehicle defects
• Hazard on the road
• Weather conditions

Statistics

• Unfortunately nowadays Los Angeles is considered to have the highest rate of traffic accidents resulting in injuries and fatal outcomes in the United States.
• In 2019 alone there have been roughly 54,000 collisions reported, making it a bit less than 2018, according to the LAPD including 236 reported deaths.
• It is a very disturbing fact that the amount of traffic collision deaths is 32% more compared to the previous 5 years making the pedestrians the majority of the victims.
• LAPD categorized over 25,300 crashes as hit-and-runs.
• Pedestrian fatalities raised by 69% over the past few years.
• Important to understand that fleeing the collision scene makes it a felony even in case it was not the driver’s fault.
• The main reason for the crash increase was caused by DUI and texting

What to do in a car accident?

When you get into an accident you might feel a bit or a lot frustrated, depending on the severity of the collision. It is important to pull yourself together (if possible) and take the following steps promptly:

1. Move to a safe area right away (if you can)

Move your vehicle / motorcycle out of the way, for example the road shoulder, in order to prevent further harm. If your car is impossible to move, turn on your emergency lights to let other drivers know that you’re going to be there for a while.

2. Stop your car and get out of it

Make sure that your car has come to a complete stop and is no longer moving, turn it off, put it into the park mode or use the hand break if you’re driving a manual. Take a deep breath and look around to make sure it is safe to get out before you open the door. Flares and other safety items might come in handy.

3. Check on other people

Walk over to the other parties involved (drivers, passengers and pedestrians) in order to make sure they are not hurt. If someone is injured it is time to call 911. A person may be severely injured even if showing no significant signs other than dizziness and bruises.

4. Report to the police

It is always best to have a police officer come to the scene which will allow you to prove important details in the future when dealing with the insurance company. Be careful not to admit fault or put the blame on the involved drivers right away at the scene. This would be the police job to adequately judge the situation and conclude whose fault it really is. There are cases when police often don't come to the scene (usually when there’s no injuries), in which case you can simply report your accident to your local DMV.

5. Information exchange

Try to gather as much information as possible according to the list below:

• Name of the driver and the passengers
• License plate number
• Insurance information
• All involved vehicles makes and models
• Accident location
• The police officer’s name or badge number

6. Documenting the scene

Most likely you have your smartphone with a camera, use it to take a few pictures of the accident. This will be a great addition to the other claim details.

7. File your insurance claim

All these steps will make the process much smoother and less stressful.

Life is unpredictable so it is good to be prepared. Amerberg Law Group. Always here for you.

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