1. Get immediate medical treatment if you need it or if you aren’t sure of your condition. Do not let a potentially serious injury go undiagnosed. If you’re injured and you avoid treatment, later you’ll have no documentation that your injury was directly caused by the traffic accident.
2. Try to get the police on the scene to make an accident report and act as witnesses. The other driver may admit fault to you at the accident scene, but after thinking it over, he or she may tell another story.
3. Take pictures if you can. Show how the cars are set relative to the street. Take photos of the damages, the license plates, and the other driver (if he or she will let you).
4. Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the other driver(s), all passengers, and any other witnesses. Don’t assume the police will collect this information. Witness testimony could be crucial later. Get the other driver’s license number, plate number, and insurance information. If the other driver is hostile, stay in your car and call the police.
5. Continue to follow your doctor’s advice and receive follow-up treatment. If you stop treatment early, your recovery will probably be longer and tougher, and the insurance company will charge that you aren’t really as injured as you claim.
6. If you are injured because the other driver was negligent – intoxicated or distracted, for example – you may be able to win compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and for your pain and suffering too. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you receive the maximum possible compensation for your injury. A good personal injury lawyer will also handle all dealings and negotiations with the other driver and with his or her attorney and insurance company. If you’ve been injured in a traffic accident anywhere in the southern California area, follow the suggestions listed here and contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney as quickly as possible.