California Lawyers who will put you first

Should you move your car after an accident?

On Behalf of | Mar 25, 2022 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

There are many car accidents in which it would be impossible to move the car after the crash. If your vehicle is totaled and there are parts strewn across the road, you need to wait for the emergency crews. Your priority should just be contacting the emergency services and getting yourself out of danger.

But what if you can still move your vehicle? Would it be wise to do so after the crash?

You may want to move out of the lane

If your car is blocking traffic and you’re worried about a secondary accident, it may be helpful and safe to move your car out of the travel lane. You certainly don’t want someone else to get injured, and it may just mean moving your car a few feet to the side.

That said, you want to be careful about moving your car for two reasons. The first is simply that leaving the scene of an accident is illegal. You want to make sure that you stay there and never move your car so far that it looks like you’re attempting to flee the scene.

The second thing to consider is whether or not it’s going to be important for the police to see your car where it was hit. If you’re worried that moving it is going to raise some questions about how the accident occurred or who was liable, it may be better to leave the car in the same place. You can take pictures of the scene and then the police can create a report based on exactly what they find when they arrive. This may help you if you’ve been injured and you’re seeking compensation for those injuries.

You do have rights

If you are at the stage of the process where you want to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and things of this nature, then you just need to look into the necessary legal steps to take.