If you have been involved in an accident and you know it is not your fault, the biggest question most of my clients ask is, what should I do? Having over 35 years of experience I have personally seen thousands of cases just like yours. The steps you take right after the crash can make or break your ability to get fair compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain.

Stay calm as best you can and call the police. That is the first and most important step.

Why Calling the Police Is Absolutely Critical

So many of my clients come into my office without a police report because no one called the police at the scene. There is no documentation of what happened. Later, the other side tries to say, “No, it wasn’t me. It was your fault.” Suddenly there is ambiguity and fighting over who caused the accident.

Calling the police creates an official government report. It is evidence and proof to show who was involved, the cause of the accident, and if anyone received a citation. You also never know if the other driver was drunk or impaired. Officers sometimes arrive and discover exactly that, and they can lawfully get that evidence that may help your case. In trucking accidents, we have seen trucks hit cars, push them off the road, and drive away. Without a report, the truck driver later denies involvement even when we have a license plate.

The police report also lists names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information for everyone at the scene, including witnesses. You need that information to deal with insurance companies and prove the other party caused the crash. Without it, your case starts on shaky ground.

Do Not Say You Are Not Injured – You Do Not Know Yet

If police arrive and say, “You do not look injured,” that is a big red flag. Do not accept their opinion, they are not medical professionals. Insist on an ambulance or medical evaluation. The police cannot see internal injuries or concussions, so you don’t know if you are injured until you are properly evaluated.

Adrenaline pumps through your body after a crash. You think, “I am okay. I am alive. I can see, I can talk, I can hand over my license.” Days later, you cannot get out of bed. A week later, headaches persist. Your shoulder will not move. Months down the road, you need surgery like a rotator cuff repair.

I cannot tell you how many clients have suffered hidden head injuries. They sit in the car thinking they are fine. They tell friends, family, even police they feel okay. Then family members notice something wrong – you cannot read a menu or your own driver’s license. In one case, parents picked up their daughter after the crash, took her to breakfast, and she could not read

the menu. Doctors diagnosed a concussion. A year later, she will never work again because that undetected head injury changed her entire life.

Never tell anyone at the scene you are not injured. You simply do not know yet.

Seek Medical Care Immediately – Even If You Feel Fine

Get checked out right away. Go by ambulance if needed, or have someone drive you to the ER or urgent care. Ambulance rides generally cost $1500 – $2000, so they are not always necessary. Insurance companies sometimes argue lack of ambulance means minor injuries, but current trends show that seeing a qualified medical professional within hours of the impact proves the crash caused your problems.

Emergency rooms often release patients quickly and recommend following up with your primary doctor. Wait times now for a primary care doctor stretch months in many places. Be the squeaky wheel – call, email, push to get in. Go to urgent care if needed. Keep records of every attempt.

Insurance companies jump on any gap or delay in treatment. They claim your injuries were not serious or existed before the accident. Consistent care from day one closes that door.

Common Questions My Clients Ask After an Accident

What if the police refuse to write a report because no one looks hurt?

Insist anyway. Tell dispatch there are or might be injuries. You are not a medical professional. You need documentation.

What if the other driver has no insurance?

Your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can step in if you have it. We review policies to maximize recovery.

How soon should I contact a lawyer?

As soon as possible. Early guidance protects evidence and avoids statements that hurt your claim.

Will I have to pay upfront for a lawyer?

No. Personal injury cases work on contingency – we only get paid if you recover money.

What damages can I recover?

Medical bills, lost wages, future care, pain and suffering, property damage – everything the crash caused.

How long do I have to file a claim in California?

In a personal injury case or wrongful death a lawsuit must be filed within 2 years from the incident/death.

What if I was partially at fault?

California follows comparative negligence. You can still recover, reduced by your percentage of fault.

At Hafif-Stonehouse Law Group, we treat every client like family because we live your case with you. We fight insurance companies that try to minimize or deny valid claims. If you or a loved one has been in an auto accident, do not navigate this alone.

Call us today for a free consultation. We are here to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.