What to Do After a Car Accident

A car accident in Beverly Hills can leave you dealing with police reports, medical appointments, insurance calls, vehicle damage, and questions about who will pay for your losses. What you do in the first hours and days after the crash can make a major difference in your personal injury claim.

Beverly Hills is small in size, but its streets carry a complicated mix of commuters, tourists, rideshare drivers, valet traffic, delivery vehicles, luxury retail traffic, and pedestrians. A collision on Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, Canon Drive, Beverly Drive, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard, or near the Golden Triangle can involve local police, business surveillance footage, nearby medical providers, and multiple insurance companies.

If you were injured in a car crash, your priorities are simple: get medical care, document what happened, preserve evidence, avoid insurance mistakes, and speak with a Beverly Hills car accident lawyer before accepting any settlement.

1. Call 911 and Report the Crash

If anyone is injured, if vehicles are blocking traffic, or if there is a dispute about what happened, call 911 immediately. For crashes that happen inside Beverly Hills city limits, the Beverly Hills Police Department generally handles the accident investigation, not LAPD.

A police report can become important evidence in your claim because it may include:

The date, time, and location of the crash.
The drivers, passengers, and vehicles involved.
Insurance and license information.
Statements from the drivers or witnesses.
The officer’s observations about fault, traffic violations, injuries, and roadway conditions.
A report number your attorney and insurer can use later.

If the other driver asks you not to call the police, be careful. People often change their story after leaving the scene, especially once insurance companies become involved. A documented BHPD report can help prevent later disputes about whether the crash happened, where it happened, or who was involved.

2. Get Medical Care as Soon as Possible

Do not wait to see whether the pain goes away. Many car accident injuries become worse after the adrenaline wears off. Neck pain, back pain, headaches, dizziness, shoulder pain, knee pain, numbness, tingling, and concussion symptoms may not fully appear until hours or days later.

After a Beverly Hills car accident, injured people may seek care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, a nearby urgent care, an orthopedic office, an imaging center, or another appropriate medical provider.

Prompt medical treatment helps your health and your case. It creates records showing:

When your symptoms began.
What body parts were injured.
Whether your injuries are consistent with the crash.
What treatment was recommended.
Whether imaging, specialist care, physical therapy, injections, or surgery may be needed.

Insurance companies look closely for gaps in treatment. If you delay care, the adjuster may argue that you were not seriously hurt or that something else caused your symptoms. The safest approach is to get evaluated quickly and follow your doctor’s recommendations.

3. Photograph and Video Everything You Safely Can

Photos and videos can disappear from memory, but they remain powerful evidence. If you can safely do so, document the scene before vehicles are moved.

Try to capture:

Vehicle damage from multiple angles.
License plates and vehicle positions.
Traffic signals, stop signs, lane markings, crosswalks, and turn lanes.
Skid marks, debris, broken glass, fluid trails, and impact points.
Visible injuries.
Weather, lighting, construction, blocked views, or road hazards.
Nearby businesses, valet stands, hotels, restaurants, parking lots, and storefront cameras.
The exact intersection or street location, such as Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, Canon Drive, Beverly Drive, Rodeo Drive, Olympic Boulevard, or Sunset Boulevard.

This matters because Beverly Hills crashes often happen in commercial areas where surveillance cameras may capture the collision. If you photograph nearby businesses and camera locations, your attorney can move quickly to request preservation of that footage.

4. Exchange Information, But Do Not Argue About Fault

Exchange basic information with the other driver, including:

Name, address, phone number, and email.
Driver’s license information.
Insurance company and policy number.
Vehicle make, model, color, and license plate.
Employer information if the driver was working, driving a company vehicle, making a delivery, operating as a rideshare driver, or working as a valet.

Keep the conversation short and factual. Do not apologize, guess, speculate, or say anything that sounds like an admission of fault. Even polite statements like “I’m sorry” can be twisted later by an insurance company.

If the other driver becomes aggressive, intoxicated, evasive, or refuses to provide information, wait for law enforcement and avoid confrontation.

5. Get Witness Information Before People Leave

Witnesses can be critical, especially in intersection collisions, hit-and-run crashes, rideshare accidents, valet collisions, and multi-vehicle pileups. People who saw the crash may leave before police arrive, so try to get their names and contact information if you are able.

Ask witnesses for:

Full name.
Phone number.
Email address.
What they saw.
Where they were standing or driving when the crash occurred.

Independent witnesses often carry more weight than drivers because they have no financial stake in the claim. Their statements can help defeat blame-shifting by the other driver or insurer.

6. Preserve Surveillance Footage Quickly

Surveillance footage can make or break a Beverly Hills car accident case. Many crashes happen near businesses, hotels, restaurants, parking garages, valet stations, office buildings, and luxury retail corridors. Cameras may capture the impact, the traffic signal, the pedestrian crossing, the driver’s speed, a lane change, or a hit-and-run vehicle.

The problem is that surveillance footage is often overwritten quickly, sometimes within days. Footage near Canon Drive, Beverly Drive, Rodeo Drive, Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, and the Golden Triangle should be requested as soon as possible.

If you can, write down or photograph:

The names of nearby businesses.
Camera locations.
Valet stands or parking structures.
Building security offices.
Nearby traffic cameras or private cameras.
The exact time of the crash.

An experience Beverly Hills personal injury lawyer can send preservation letters requesting that businesses, property owners, rideshare companies, valet companies, or other parties preserve relevant evidence before it is deleted.

7. Notify Your Insurance Company, But Be Careful What You Say

Most auto policies require you to notify your own insurance company after an accident. You can provide basic facts, such as where and when the crash happened, the vehicles involved, and whether you are seeking medical care.

But you should be careful before giving a recorded statement, detailed injury description, or opinion about fault. Adjusters may sound friendly, but their job is to protect the insurance company’s financial interests. They may ask questions designed to minimize your injuries, create inconsistencies, or shift fault onto you.

Do not say:

“I’m fine.”
“It was partly my fault.”
“I don’t think I’m badly hurt.”
“I didn’t see the other car.”
“I can settle now.”

It is safer to say that you are still evaluating your injuries, receiving medical care, and will provide additional information after you understand the full extent of your damages.

8. Do Not Accept a Quick Settlement

Insurance companies often move quickly when they believe they can close a claim cheaply. A fast offer may seem helpful when you are dealing with medical bills, rental car expenses, and missed work. But once you sign a release, your claim is usually over.

That means you may not be able to seek more compensation later, even if you later discover that you need injections, surgery, long-term physical therapy, or time away from work.

Before accepting any settlement, you should understand:

The full extent of your injuries.
Whether you need future medical care.
Whether you have wage loss or diminished earning capacity.
Whether there are medical liens or health insurance reimbursement claims.
The at-fault driver’s insurance limits.
Whether UM/UIM coverage may apply.
Whether multiple parties share responsibility.

9. Understand the California Deadlines That May Apply

Most California personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. That deadline applies to many car accident injury claims, including claims for bodily injury caused by another driver’s negligence.

A much shorter deadline can apply if a government entity may be responsible. Under Government Code section 911.2, claims for injury, death, or property damage against a public entity generally must be presented within six months. This can matter if your crash involved a dangerous roadway condition, malfunctioning traffic signal, poor signage, negligent public employee, or another public entity issue involving the City of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, or Caltrans.

California’s minimum auto liability limits are currently $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage. These minimum limits may be far too low for serious injuries, which is why uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can become important.

Legal deadlines can vary based on the facts, so do not assume you have plenty of time. Evidence deadlines are often even shorter than filing deadlines.

10. Contact a Beverly Hills Car Accident Lawyer Early

The earlier an attorney becomes involved, the easier it is to preserve evidence, identify insurance coverage, protect you from adjuster tactics, and build the claim correctly from the beginning.

A Beverly Hills car accident lawyer can help by:

Obtaining and reviewing the BHPD traffic collision report.
Sending preservation letters for surveillance footage.
Locating witnesses and camera evidence.
Communicating with insurance companies for you.
Identifying all available insurance policies.
Evaluating UM/UIM coverage.
Tracking medical treatment and damages.
Handling lien and subrogation issues.
Preparing the case for settlement or litigation.

This is especially important when the crash involves a rideshare vehicle, valet driver, company vehicle, hit-and-run driver, multiple vehicles, serious injury, disputed fault, or limited insurance coverage.

What Not to Do After a Beverly Hills Car Accident

Just as important as what you do is what you avoid. After a crash, do not:

Leave the scene before exchanging information or contacting police when required.
Delay medical treatment.
Rely only on verbal promises from the other driver.
Post about the accident or your injuries on social media.
Give a recorded statement without legal guidance.
Sign a medical authorization that gives the insurer broad access to your records.
Accept a settlement before your injuries are fully evaluated.
Assume the insurance company will tell you about every available coverage source.

Insurance companies routinely review statements, medical records, photographs, social media posts, and treatment timelines. A small mistake early in the process can become a major issue later.

Common Beverly Hills Crash Scenarios That Require Extra Investigation

Some Beverly Hills accidents are more complex than a standard two-car crash. Extra investigation may be needed when the collision involves:

A rideshare vehicle, including Uber or Lyft.
A valet driver near a restaurant, hotel, retail store, or private event.
A hit-and-run driver.
A pedestrian or cyclist.
A delivery driver or commercial vehicle.
A multi-vehicle pileup.
A crash near a dangerous intersection.
A driver who may have been distracted, impaired, speeding, or working at the time.

In these cases, multiple insurance policies may apply. The at-fault driver’s personal policy may not be the only potential source of recovery. Depending on the facts, there may be commercial coverage, rideshare coverage, valet company coverage, employer coverage, UM/UIM coverage, or a claim involving a public entity.

FAQ: What to Do After a Car Accident in Beverly Hills

1. Who investigates car accidents in Beverly Hills?

Crashes inside Beverly Hills city limits are generally investigated by the Beverly Hills Police Department. If your crash happened elsewhere in Los Angeles, a different agency may respond.

2. Should I go to the hospital after a Beverly Hills car accident?

If you have pain, visible injuries, head trauma, dizziness, numbness, or any concerning symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Even if symptoms seem minor, prompt evaluation can protect your health and create important documentation for your claim.

3. How soon should I contact a lawyer after a crash?

As soon as possible, especially if you were injured, fault is disputed, the other driver fled, a rideshare or valet vehicle was involved, or nearby surveillance footage may exist. Early legal action can help preserve evidence before it disappears.

4. Do I have to give a recorded statement to the insurance company?

You may have duties under your own policy, but you should be careful before giving a recorded statement. You should not give a detailed statement to the other driver’s insurer without first understanding your rights and the risks.

5. What if the other driver only has minimum insurance?

California’s minimum liability limits may not cover serious injuries. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional protection if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance.

Speak With a Beverly Hills Car Accident Lawyer at The Injury Partners

After a Beverly Hills car accident, you should not have to deal with insurance adjusters, evidence preservation, medical bills, and legal deadlines by yourself. The Injury Partners represents car accident victims throughout Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County, and our attorneys handle cases on a contingency-fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Our Beverly Hills office is located at 499 N Canon Dr Suite B1, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. To discuss your case, call The Injury Partners at 310-220-0066 for a free, confidential consultation.