It’s common for accident victims to feel overwhelmed and confused following the incidents that cause their personal injuries, but don’t worry. You can use the Orange County Accident Victim’s Guide to determine what your first steps should be, when you should hire a lawyer, and how you should proceed with your case.

The Importance of Obtaining Legal Counsel

While your top priority immediately following the accident should always be your safety and that of others, you should contact an Orange County personal injury attorney as soon as you have been medically stabilized. Your attorney can help you understand personal injury laws and how to move forward with your claim, make sure your paperwork gets filed properly, and collect evidence to support your case.

Working with an attorney from the beginning can help you avoid common mistakes and give you a knowledgeable professional to turn to if you have any questions about the legal process.

Head to a Local Hospital as Soon as Possible

In 2023, there were a total of 17,809 serious vehicular accidents in Orange County, CA. It doesn’t matter whether you were in a car crash or a slip-and-fall accident, though. Your next step following the accident should always be the same: You should head to a local hospital to seek a full medical evaluation. Local hospitals in Orange County include:

  • Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • UCI Medical Center
  • Providence St. Joseph Hospital
  • Kindred Hospital Santa Ana

You don’t have to attend one of these top local hospitals in the OC, but you should seek medical care from a qualified physician as soon as possible, even if you’re not sure you sustained any serious injuries. A doctor can check you over for hidden injuries, which can, in some cases, be life-threatening. Even if your injuries are not that severe, it helps your case to have a record that they appeared immediately after your accident, not during a subsequent event.

Obtaining a Copy of Your Police Report

If the police arrived at the scene of your accident, they should have filed a complete incident report. This is often the case with traffic accidents, and may be the case with other incidents, as well, if serious injuries occurred. You can obtain a copy of your record by contacting the records department of the law enforcement agency that responded to your 911 call.

Having a copy of your police report can help to bolster your personal injury claim. The report should contain everything from a detailed analysis of what happened to whether there were any witnesses to the incident. Your attorney may be able to use the police report as evidence in your case.

Navigating the Local Courts

Most personal injury cases in Orange County are handled by the Orange County Superior Court. However, the majority of claims are resolved in negotiations and do not need to go to trial. You can trust your attorney to negotiate a fair settlement with the liable party’s insurance company. However, if that’s not possible, it’s important to have a lawyer on your side who has trial experience.

Your lawyer can handle all aspects of the trial for you, including getting you prepared to go to court and give a statement if they decide that it could benefit your case. Victim statements aren’t always helpful, though. If your attorney believes that giving a statement could harm your case, it’s a good idea to listen to their advice.

Whether you choose to give a statement or not, you should show up to court looking presentable and be prepared to sit quietly and observe the proceedings. Your attorney can give you advice about how to act, what to avoid, and how to navigate the local court system. Even if your case goes to trial, you may still be able to negotiate a settlement before the judge or jury issues a verdict. Ask your lawyer whether this could benefit your case and final settlement amount.

FAQs

Q: How Do I Look Up a Police Report in Orange County?

A: How you look up a police report in Orange County depends on which officers investigated the crash. You can request a copy of a California Highway Patrol accident report online. If the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) responded to the accident, you can request the report through their Records Department. If local police responded to the call, you must contact that specific police department’s records division.

Q: Does a Police Incident Report Show Up on a Background Check?

A: A police incident report should not show up on a standard background check if no arrest or criminal conviction occurred. Background checks for things like housing and employment usually search court databases for criminal records, pleas, and pending charges. However, deep background checks for federal agencies, law enforcement, or positions requiring top-secret security clearances may review all police interactions.

Q: Are Police Incident Reports Public Record in California?

A: Police incident reports are public record in California under the California Public Records Act (CPRA). However, they are rarely released to the public in their entirety and are subject to privacy exemptions. Unredacted reports are typically available only to authorized individuals like victims, insurance carriers, legal representatives, and other involved parties.

Q: How Long Does a Police Report Stay on File in California?

A: How long a police report stays on file in California depends on the nature of the record. Most departments retain reports for decades, but minor traffic collision records may not be kept for as long, depending on the municipality. Under CVC 1807, the DMV is not required to keep files indefinitely, though it must retain conviction records that could lead to license suspensions, revocations, or negligent driver classifications.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you’re having difficulty navigating the legal system following an accident in Orange County, you can hire a personal injury lawyer to help.

The team here at Easton & Easton has been in practice for years and has handled countless complex car accident cases. We routinely obtain significant settlements for our clients, with one out of every three settlements exceeding $100,000. However, past settlement amounts are not a guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.

Let us use our proven process to get you a fair settlement. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation regarding your personal injury claim today.