Attorney Consultation Chronology
Preparing For Your Legal Consultation
When meeting with a personal injury attorney after a California auto collision, the single most critical asset is an organized, factual, contemporaneous record. Attorneys evaluate liability, causation, and documented damages before accepting representation.
This dossier helps you articulate exactly when symptoms were first treated, prevent inconsistent statements to third-party insurance adjusters, and verify compliance with statutory obligations such as the California DMV SR-1 notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must a California driver report an accident to the DMV?
Under California Vehicle Code § 16000, drivers involved in an accident in California must report the incident on Form SR-1 within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage to any one person's vehicle or property exceeded $1,000. Failure to submit an SR-1 can result in driver's license suspension.
Why is logging the gap between the crash and medical evaluation vital?
Insurance carriers frequently argue that any gap in medical treatment (e.g. waiting two weeks before visiting an emergency room or physician) implies the injury was either minor or caused by an unrelated intervening event. Contemporaneous logs establish continuous symptom manifestation.
Should I provide a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer?
California attorneys generally advise clients to exercise caution before giving unrepresented, recorded statements to an adverse insurer. Adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to elicit admissions of partial comparative fault (California Civil Code § 1714).
Is my data transmitted anywhere when using this site?
No. All calculations, dossier generation, timeline rendering, and JSON exports happen strictly within your browser's local sandbox memory. No records or personally identifiable data leave your machine.