What to Do If You Are Injured While Visiting San Francisco on Vacation
The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most popular places to visit in the entire country. According to San Francisco Travel, approximately 25 million people visit the region each year. While Northern California is undoubtedly a wonderful vacation spot, unfortunately, an accident can happen on any trip.
You and your family need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Injured victims need to know how to protect their health and well-being as well as their legal rights. Here, our dedicated San Francisco tourist injury lawyers review the four most important things you need to do if you are injured while on vacation.
Tourist Injuries in California: Four Steps to Take
1. Seek Emergency Medical Care
Emergency medical attention needs to come before anything else. If you or your loved one was severely injured while visiting San Francisco, it is imperative that you get immediate medical attention. Even if you believe that the injuries are only moderate, it is still important to seek a comprehensive medical evaluation from a qualified physician.
2. Report the Accident
Tourist injuries should be reported to the appropriate parties. Who exactly you should report your accident to will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. For example, if you were hurt in a motor vehicle collision in San Francisco, the crash should be reported to local or state law enforcement officials. If you were injured while staying at a hotel or an Airbnb in the Bay Area, that incident should be reported to the company. If you are not sure where or how to report your accident, an experienced California tourist injury lawyer can help.
3. Notify Your Insurance Company
If you are covered by your own insurance — whether that is auto insurance, rental car insurance, or travel insurance — you should notify your provider regarding the accident. At this time, you should not give a statement, and you should certainly not admit or accept any fault for the accident. Instead, simply notify the company that an injury occurred. That is your only obligation.
4. Get Help from a Local Attorney
Finally, if you are considering pursuing a legal claim, you need to seek guidance from a local attorney. If you were hurt in the Bay Area, you should consult with a San Francisco personal injury lawyer. For many different reasons, plaintiffs are best served by a personal injury attorney who is located in the area where the accident occurred. To start, the vast majority of personal injury claims are handled under state law. You need a lawyer who is eligible to practice and who understands the law in the jurisdiction where your injuries occurred. In addition to that, a local personal injury lawyer will be able to conduct a comprehensive, in depth investigation of your accident.
Contact Our Bay Area Tourist Injury Attorneys Today
At Bracamontes & Vlasak, we are strong advocates for injured victims. Our law firm has extensive experience handling tourist injury claims and vacation injury claims. If you or your family member was hurt while visiting Northern California, we can help. For a free, no obligation consultation, please call our San Francisco law office at (415) 835-6777.
