What to do after a minor car accident

Even minor car accidents can be traumatic experiences. No drivers expect to be involved in a collision but statistically everyone is likely to encounter one, so coming away from such an experience with minimal damage is fortunate. If someone hits your car lightly or rear ends you at an intersection (situations known colloquially as ‘fender benders’), it is difficult but important to remain calm and to act properly according to the law.

Whenever you have been in a car accident, whether you have caused damage or suffered damage, be it emotional or physical, we at Norman G Fernandez are ready to work for you and with you right from the beginning. Call us for free on 800-816-1529 at any time – even from the scene of a car accident – and one of our experienced car accident attorneys will talk you through what to do next, and advise you about how to proceed in making or defending against any claims arising from the accident.

What do you legally have to do following a minor car accident in California?

You have three important legal obligations if you are involved in a minor car accident. Firstly, you must not leave the scene of the car accident, or even seem to leave the scene. Only move your car for safety reasons, and make sure not to drive far because you might look as though you are fleeing the scene. Leaving before speaking to the other driver could turn even the most minor of car accidents into a far more serious criminal charge of hit and run, punishable by license suspension and worse.

Your second legal obligation if you have been in a car accident is to exchange information with the other driver(s) involved. Make sure to ask for their driver’s licenses, vehicle registration and auto insurance company, and be ready to supply them with your own.  You should also exchange names, addresses and contact details. It is best to personally write down any and every detail from any documents or information provided to you.

Finally, if any damage or injury occurred during the car accident, you must report the accident to the DMV within ten days.

Do you need an attorney for a minor car accident in Irvine, Long Beach or Huntington Beach?

It is vital to consult an experienced attorney, no matter how minor you think your car accident may have been. Our dedicated investigators and lawyers at the Law Offices of Norman G Fernandez know how to negotiate with the other party and with insurance companies and can advise you as to your options. Because it is difficult for a layperson to assess the cost of repairing specific damage and parts of different kinds of vehicles, the accident could very well lead to surprisingly expensive civil law suits.

Even if no damage whatsoever is visible at the scene of the accident, it is not necessarily true that none was caused. Within two years of the accident, you or the other driver may be able to make a personal injury claim if you discover internal damage to a vehicle or experience emotional distress stemming from the accident. It is far safer to procure a personal injury attorney early on and provide them with all of the facts.

The law offices of Norman G Fernandez serves clients in Huntington Beach, Long Beach and surrounding areas.

Our specialized car accident attorneys have years of experience behind both prosecuting and defending law suits arising from all kinds of car accidents in California. If you have been involved in a car accident, been rear ended or your car has been hit, or even if you caused a fender bender, you cannot afford to wait and hope that everything will work out.

Our law firm operates all over California and will come to you. We operate out of and serve the following areas:

• Anaheim 
• Bakersfield
• Chula Vista
• Irvine 
• Long Beach
• Los Angeles
• Riverside 
• San Bernardino
• San Diego
• Santa Ana

Every car accident has the potential to be far more serious that you could imagine. You cannot afford to waste any time or to settle for anything less than the best when it comes to legal representation.

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Call Us Today for Quality Car Accident Attorneys You Can Count On!

Law Offices of Norman G. Fernandez
800-816-1529
18685 Main Street #101-193 Huntington Beach, CA 92648