Oakland Car Accident Lawyers
Car accidents have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries, such as burns, brain trauma and even death. Even seemingly mild conditions could lead to losses you have not even started to consider.
Venardi Zurada has 35 years of protecting the interests of injured people in California. We are here to help you cut through self-serving insurance-company policies and access to the resources you need to truly recover.
Arm Yourself with Knowledge
Understanding your specific situation and its context is important. Legal analysis is probably the best way to avoid becoming a victim not only of negligent behavior, but also of predatory insurance tactics. No two situations are alike, so ensure you have relevant information for your case.
Seek Treatment for Injuries
Your first step after a serious auto accident should be to remain on the scene and seek professional medical attention for any injured people. This should help minimize damage to the greatest extent possible. It should also provide medical evidence that could later support your legal claim, if necessary.
Investigate the Incident
Collecting information is typically important, but so is the manner in which you gather your information. To start, you may want to do the following:
- Collect personal contact information and witness testimony
- Contact emergency services in the case of road debris, inebriated individuals or other situations requiring official intervention
- Share your personal contact information to other drivers
- Take photos and make personal notes regarding the accident scene
- Call police for a collision report if you have doubts
If you do not have the capacity to do some of these things yourself, do not worry — your health should come first. However, it generally benefits a case to collect information as early on in the process as possible.
Avoid Damaging Your Case
As an injured person, your primary focus should be recovering from your injuries. Becoming distracted by insurance company tactics or losing patience with the personal injury legal process could lead to a less desirable outcome. Here are some things to avoid after a car accident:
- Posting anything on social media without considering the effect on your case
- Chatting with other parties or potential parties, such as other drivers or witnesses
- Signing documents without understanding the full legal context
- Discussing the accident with others
- Providing recorded statements to insurance companies, such as recorded phone calls
- Admitting fault of any kind
In general, insurance companies will work to minimize the amount of damages you have the potential to recover. It would probably be in your best interest to make this job as difficult as possible for them.
Know When To Ask for Help
Venardi Zurada has three offices, from the Bay Area up through Northern California — in Oakland, Walnut Creek, and Redding. If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident, time is of the essence. To schedule a free initial consultation, contact our office by calling 833-893-6763 today.
