Glendale is a lively suburb of Los Angeles. Whether your interest is shopping at the Glendale Galleria or enjoying a show at the Glendale Centre Theater, there’s no shortage of things to do. Naturally, the appeal of the Glendale area, brings heavy traffic and an increased risk of accidents.
As the main transportation artery of Glendale, Brand Blvd. is one of the city’s worst roads to drive. In fact, a total of 228 accidents occurred on Brand Blvd. in 2017. Moreover, the top three most dangerous intersections in Glendale all fall on Brand Boulevard. Thus, if you’ve found yourself involved in an accident on Brand Boulevard, you’re not alone.
Types of Accidents That Happen on Brand Blvd.
Many of the accidents in Glendale in general and on Brand Blvd. in particular are triggered by speed and aggressive driving. Since there are a large number of vehicles entering the city streets from the freeway, many of the accidents in this area are caused by the failure of some drivers to slow down or properly assimilate into the traffic flow.
Drivers who are unfamiliar with the Glendale area may end up inadvertently causing accidents because they are trying to change lanes or take an exit to get on the highway. Some of the most common causes of accidents, in general, also trigger accidents on Brand Blvd, including:
- Driver fatigue
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances
- Distracted driving, particularly cell phone use
- Weather conditions and poor visibility
- Mechanical failure
Steps to Take After an Accident
The first thing to do after you have been in an accident is to make sure you and your passengers are safe. Stay in your vehicle if moving puts you at risk of further injury. Leave your vehicle exactly where it is if possible until police have arrived or move to a safe location to avoid blocking traffic. Turn on your hazard lights on and use flares or warning triangles if you have them.
Check to see if anyone is injured and call 911 to report the accident. Don’t leave the scene of the accident under any circumstance. The police need to be involved even if the accident is minor, because a police report will be required as part of the claims process, and the police will determine who was at fault.
Obtain the name and car insurance information of the other driver, and don’t say anything that sounds like you are admitting fault even if you suspect that you might be. Obtain contact information from any witnesses that were there when the accident happened.
Documenting the Accident
Write down as many details as you can remember about the accident as soon as possible. Include information about how the accident occurred, including information about traffic lights and the influence that weather, daylight, or road conditions may have had.
Make a note of street signs or landmarks that clearly identify the location of the accident. If you have a smartphone, take pictures of the condition of both vehicles as well as the license plate of the other vehicle involved. Write down the name of any police officers who came to the scene of the accident.
If there is any chance you have been injured, make sure you are thoroughly checked out by a doctor. You may not experience symptoms of injury for a day or more even though you have been hurt.
Get Legal Advice
If you have been hurt in an accident on Brand Blvd. or any other location caused by the carelessness of another driver, it’s important to speak to an expert in the field of personal injury law. A person who causes an accident because of distracted driving, speeding or any other reason should be held accountable for their actions. Contact Megeredchian Law using the form on this page and one of our lawyers will get back to you very soon.