What to Do After a Car Accident
Protect Yourself Legally, Physically, and Financially With Help From Kosnett Law Firm in Los Angeles
A car crash can turn your world upside down in an instant. Whether it’s a minor fender-bender or a devastating collision, the steps you take in the moments, hours, and days afterward can make a significant difference in your physical recovery — and your ability to recover financial compensation.
At Kosnett Law Firm, our Los Angeles car accident lawyers understand how disorienting and stressful the aftermath of an accident can be. That’s why we’ve outlined this guide to help you protect yourself from the start. By following these steps, you’ll safeguard your health, preserve your legal rights, and avoid common mistakes that insurance companies love to exploit. For personalized advice and assistance tailored to your specific needs and circumstances, contact our office for a free consultation.
Prioritize Safety and Medical Attention
Your first concern after any accident should be your safety and the safety of others. If you’re able to do so safely, move your vehicle out of traffic to a safe location. Check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt or if the accident is serious.
Even if you seem okay at first, you should still get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible. Some injuries — including whiplash, internal bleeding, or traumatic brain injuries — may not show symptoms right away but can get worse if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Delaying medical treatment can also give the insurance company an excuse to argue that you weren’t seriously hurt or that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident.
Getting prompt medical attention isn’t just important for your health; it creates a record of your injuries that will be essential in pursuing a personal injury claim.
Report the Accident
In California, you’re required to report a car accident to law enforcement if it results in injury or death and to submit a report to the DMV in cases involving injury, death, or over $1,000 in property damage. Calling 911 at the scene will typically satisfy this requirement, as officers who respond will create an official accident report.
Be honest when speaking with police, but avoid speculating or accepting blame. Stick to the facts — what you saw, heard, and experienced. The report the officer creates can serve as a valuable piece of evidence later on, especially if liability is in dispute.
You may also need to report the accident to your insurance company promptly. However, you do need not and should not give a recorded statement or accept a settlement offer without first speaking to a lawyer.
Document the Scene
If you’re able to do so safely, take photos of the accident scene before vehicles are moved. Capture images of vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs, and any visible injuries. If there are witnesses, ask for their names and contact information.
Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver(s), but keep your conversation brief and polite. Avoid saying anything that could be interpreted as admitting fault — even something as simple as “I’m sorry” could be twisted by an insurance adjuster later on.
These early details can be crucial. Photos and eyewitness statements can support your version of events and counter the insurance company’s efforts to downplay or shift blame.
Watch Out for Insurance Company Tactics
Once the accident is reported, insurance adjusters will begin investigating — and that includes looking for ways to limit how much they have to pay. You might be contacted soon after the crash and offered a quick settlement. It may seem like a relief at first, but these early offers are almost always far below what your case is truly worth.
Additionally, insurance companies may try to:
- Blame you for the accident or suggest you were partially at fault
- Argue your injuries are exaggerated or unrelated to the crash
- Delay the process, hoping you’ll give up or accept less
- Pressure you to provide a recorded statement they can use against you
- Push for a fast settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries
At Kosnett Law Firm, we know how to deal with these tactics. We step in immediately to handle all communication with the insurance companies on your behalf, allowing you to focus on healing while we protect your rights.
Understand the Law and Your Rights
California is a comparative fault state, which means even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you may still be entitled to compensation. Your recovery would simply be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, insurance companies often exploit this rule to their advantage, assigning an unfair share of blame to accident victims.
We work to gather evidence and build a strong case that accurately reflects what happened — and holds the right parties accountable.
It’s also important to be aware of the statute of limitations. In most California car accident cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you could lose your right to recover compensation altogether. There are exceptions in some cases, so it’s best to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident.
What Kind of Compensation Can You Recover?
Every case is unique, but car accident claims generally involve compensation for the following types of harm:
- Medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement or permanent disability
In cases involving particularly reckless or intentional conduct — such as accidents caused by a drunk driver or drag racer — you may also be able to recover punitive damages.
We thoroughly investigate your claim and work with medical experts, financial professionals, and accident reconstructionists to determine the full value of your damages. Our goal is to make sure you are compensated not just for your immediate costs, but for the long-term impact of your injuries.
Why You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident
Many people wonder if they need a lawyer after a crash, especially if the other driver was clearly at fault. The truth is, having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side levels the playing field.
Insurance companies have lawyers and adjusters working to protect their bottom line. You deserve someone fighting just as hard for your best interests.
At Kosnett Law Firm, we handle all insurance communications and negotiations, investigate the accident and gather critical evidence, work with experts to prove liability and damages, and negotiate aggressively for full and fair compensation. We also prepare your case for trial if the insurance company refuses to be fair.
We’re not a settlement mill — we’re trial-ready, strategic, and deeply committed to getting the results our clients need to move forward with their lives.
Contact Kosnett Law Firm for a Free, Confidential Case Review
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Los Angeles or throughout California, don’t wait to get legal help. The sooner we get involved, the more we can do to protect your rights, preserve evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf.
Kosnett Law Firm offers free consultations, and you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
Call us today or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation. Let us take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on what matters most — your recovery.
