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 clock’s ticking—two years goes fast in California.
Step 1: Get Medical Attention—Even If You Feel Fine
Adrenaline is a liar. Just because you feel okay doesn’t mean you are. Insurance companies will use any delay in treatment to claim your injuries aren’t related to the accident. Get checked out immediately. Keep every receipt and follow every doctor’s order.
Step 2: Preserve the Scene
Your memory? It’ll blur in a week. But a photo—timestamped, geo-tagged—can speak louder than your words ever will. Take wide shots, close-ups, license plates, skid marks, traffic signs—everything. Get witness names and numbers. And yes, dashcam footage—seriously, everyone should have one—can be the difference between winning and losing.
Step 3: Don’t Talk to Their Insurance Company
They may sound nice. They may offer you a quick check. Don’t take it. Don’t give a recorded statement. Don’t admit anything. That vacation photo you posted from Big Sur? Insurance adjusters *will* find it. Don’t give them ammo. In fact, pause your feed altogether—yes, even that “throwback” pic.
Step 4: Know What Damages You Can Claim
It’s 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 you—often 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 driver’s insurer. After we got involved? $275,000. And that wasn’t a one-off. We helped a Van Nuys rideshare driver turn a $7,500 lowball into $210,000—after they tried to claim her back pain was “just stress.”
We’ve handled over 3,000 car accident cases and recovered more than $1.5 billion for Californians. You’ll talk to a real attorney—not 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. Don’t wait. Contact West Coast Trial Lawyers for a free consultation today.
