TL;DR: Want the biggest possible car accident payout? Document everything (and we mean everything), skip the friendly insurance calls, and talk to a lawyer before you say a word. The clockโs tickingโtwo years goes fast in California.
Step 1: Get Medical AttentionโEven If You Feel Fine
Adrenaline is a liar. Just because you feel okay doesnโt mean you are. Insurance companies will use any delay in treatment to claim your injuries arenโt related to the accident. Get checked out immediately. Keep every receipt and follow every doctor’s order.
Step 2: Preserve the Scene
Your memory? Itโll blur in a week. But a photoโtimestamped, geo-taggedโcan speak louder than your words ever will. Take wide shots, close-ups, license plates, skid marks, traffic signsโeverything. Get witness names and numbers. And yes, dashcam footageโseriously, everyone should have oneโcan be the difference between winning and losing.
Step 3: Donโt Talk to Their Insurance Company
They may sound nice. They may offer you a quick check. Donโt take it. Donโt give a recorded statement. Donโt admit anything. That vacation photo you posted from Big Sur? Insurance adjusters *will* find it. Donโt give them ammo. In fact, pause your feed altogetherโyes, even that โthrowbackโ pic.
Step 4: Know What Damages You Can Claim
Itโs not just hospital bills. You may be entitled to:
- Medical expenses (now and future)
- Lost wages and future income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability or disfigurement
Most settlements take anywhere from a few months to a year. Complex injuries or insurance delays? Expect longer. But rushing costs youโoften six figures.
Step 5: Let a Lawyer Handle the Hard Stuff
One client came to us after being offered just $12,000 by the other driverโs insurer. After we got involved? $275,000. And that wasnโt a one-off. We helped a Van Nuys rideshare driver turn a $7,500 lowball into $210,000โafter they tried to claim her back pain was โjust stress.โ
Weโve handled over 3,000 car accident cases and recovered more than $1.5 billion for Californians. Youโll talk to a real attorneyโnot a call center rep. And you pay nothing unless we win.
Need Legal Help?
The steps you take right now could decide the outcome of your case. Donโt wait. Contact West Coast Trial Lawyers for a free consultation today.
