What Should I do after the accident? Personal injury / Car Accident Attorney advice

WHAT IF I GET A TICKET?
Sign it. A ticket has nothing to do with your guilt or innocence. When you sign, you merely agree to appear in court. If you are found guilty or admit guilt of violation of a vehicle code it is used as evidence that you are at least partially at fault.. While it is okay to sign the ticket, talk with your lawyer before you pay a fine or plead guilty. Find out if you can attend traffic school instead. If you plead guilty, you may hurt your changes of collecting damages from the other driver later.

MUST I FURNISH PROOF OF INSURANCE?
The police officer may ask you to prove you have auto insurance. You must show the officer your insurance company's name and your policy number. If you are not insured or can't prove you are financially responsible in some other way, many states (including California) mandate you lose your license. If you tell the officer you have insurance when you don't, you can be fined, sent to jail, or both. Keep your insurance company's name and your policy number. There may be other consequences of not having liability insurance. In California, for instance, your ability to recover damages is severely limited if you do not have liability insurance, or you are under the influence of alcohol, whether the accident is your fault or not!

WHAT IF ONE OF THE DRIVERS HAS BEEN DRINKING?
If a police officer suspects you of drinking and asks you to take an alcohol test, you could lose your license if you don't cooperate. Penalties for drunk driving are severe. Accidents resulting in death have resulted in prison for many people. Blood tests are the most accurate tests and breath tests the least accurate. If you are absolutely sure you have not reached the legal limit in your state, you should take a blood test since you do not wish an inaccurate test. Blood tests are the hardest of the three tests (blood, breath or urine) to prove inaccurate. Therefore, to the person not legally under the influence of alcohol, a blood test would be a good choice. If a person believes he may be legally under the influence, he should take a breath test because it is easier for his attorney to argue against the validity of a breath test than a blood test. The best advice is still, "If you drive, don't drink."

MUST I WEAR A SEAT BELT?
In most states (including California) tickets are issued for not wearing seat belts. Also, if you have an automobile accident not your fault and are not wearing a seat belt, this can be used against you to diminish your recovery against the other driver. The driver also can be ticketed and receive severe consequences if a young child (age depends on the state) is not protected by a child seat.