What to do if you have a car accident in Los Angeles?
By: Hugo Casanova
Tags: Car Accident Lawyer, Accident, Injury Attorney, Insurance, Car Accident Attorney

Los Angeles and metropolitan area has over 12 million residents, where most people use cars and other vehicles for transportation. Although no one wants to be involved in a car accident, it is not surprising that they happen in a city with such a large flow of cars. Every city and every state has its own laws and its own ways of handling car accidents but here we will tell you what to do if you have a car accident in Los Angeles. Follow these basic recommendations in case of accidents to be as prepared as possible and to know how to handle the situation.

Los Angeles highway

Pull over

If you get involved in a car accident, you must stop. It’s not only your responsibility, it’s your obligation. The law in Los Angeles states that when you get involved in a car accident, you must stop and offer help if someone is injured.

Do not admit responsibility

Limit your conversation with the other party involved and do not admit responsibility for the accident. This can be used against you by the other party’s insurance company. Let your insurance company handle it and do not talk about the accident with the other party.

Report the accident

California law states that you must report any car accident you are involved in within 24 hours. If you are involved in a car accident, report it to the LAPD or CHP.

Collect all necessary information

Collect as much information and evidence as you can. The information you need to collect would be, the information about the accident and the information about the other party involved.

About the accident

● Collect information about what happened. Try to remember everything in as much detail as possible. You can take notes or make a recording narrating what happened. It is also advisable to take pictures that can serve as evidence.

● Collect information about the accident scene such as: address where the accident happened, date and time of the accident, name and state of the road where the accident occurred, the direction you were headed, the direction the other party involved was headed, and weather conditions at the time of the accident.

● If there were witnesses, save their names and contact numbers in case their statement is needed later.

● Collect information about the police officer who went to the scene of the accident such as: name, badge number, and contact information

About the other party involved

● Collect personal information about the other driver such as: name, contact number and address.

● Collect information about the other party’s insurance such as: the name of their insurance company and policy number of their insurance company.

● Collect information about the other vehicle such as: license plate number and vehicle registration information. Get the information about the vehicle description as well as model, year and make of the vehicle.

Get a car accident lawyer

Although it is not mandatory to hire a car accident lawyer, it is always advisable to have the assistance of an expert.

Seek medical assistance

It is important to see a doctor after an accident to make sure your injuries are no more serious than they appear and to prevent further risks. It is also important to have a medical report that will be useful at the time of making your claim. A medical report can document your injuries and damages caused by a car accident to build your case for financial compensation.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Los Angeles

Car accidents happen every day all over the world and no matter how many precautions we take, there are external factors that we cannot control and can lead us to be part of an accident. Los Angeles has a particularly high number of car accidents every day, making it one of the most dangerous cities to drive in the United States.

Los Angeles is a city of approximately 4 million residents who drive on the streets and highways every day. In addition, millions of suburban drivers crowd the Los Angeles highways on their way to their destination. This leads to constant traffic congestion on the highways and makes car accidents so common and in many cases, fatal. It is estimated that every 40 hours, a person is killed by a car accident in Los Angeles.

These are some of the main causes of car accidents in Los Angeles:

Speeding

With constantly congested highways, it is common for Los Angel drivers to spend a lot of time stuck in traffic. Speed limits are exceeded by drivers who try to make up for that lost time and get to their destination as soon as possible. This is a major cause of accidents in Los Angeles and can cause serious injuries and even death to other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Slow drivers

Just as exceeding the speed limit can cause accidents, so can driving too slowly, and this is against the law in Los Angeles. Nervous drivers who slowdown in search of an exit or who drive on unfamiliar roads and who brake suddenly interfere with the flow of traffic and can cause accidents.

Rideshare accidents

In Los Angeles, the use of rideshares as Uber is becoming more common and they contribute to the rate of car accidents. Accident victims become confused as to who is the liable party. Your lawyer can help you determine liability.

Distracted drivers

This is one of the main causes of accidents in Los Angeles. Distracted drivers with their cell phones, eating or not paying attention to the road, cause accidents and injure pedestrians and cyclists every day.

Drunk drivers

Driving under the influence of alcohol causes car accidents every day. This is one of the main causes of accidents in Los Angeles. Alcohol inhibits your reflexes and your ability to focus making you prone to cause accidents and get hurt or injure others. Driving under the influence of alcohol can be fatal. If you drink, don’t drive.

Driving under the influence of drugs

Drugs, like alcohol, decrease your ability to focus and your speed of reaction. In Los Angeles, where marijuana is legal, it is often found in the blood of drivers who have been involved in car accidents.

Road rage

This is a major cause of car accidents in Los Angeles. Drivers spend many hours stuck in traffic due to the influx of vehicles on the road at any given time. This leads to them getting easily exasperated when they are getting late to their destination and they end up driving aggressively and recklessly, thus causing accidents.

Driving at night

At night, our vision is compromised. It’s hard to anticipate what’s in front of us if we cannot see properly. It is important to be especially alert at night as the factors that can cause accidents intensify. From fatigued drivers, to pedestrians and cyclists who are not visible to the driver. If you are on the road at night, make sure you are visible to other drivers and drive carefully and alertly.

In addition to these causes of accidents, there are other causes of accidents such as weather conditions, failure to obey traffic signals, and vehicle failure. It is important to keep your vehicle in the best conditions, as well as to respect traffic signs and drive carefully to minimize the chances of being part of a car accident.