What Car Guys Get Wrong About Accidents

What Really Happens After a Car Accident — Legally and Financially

Car accidents can turn your world upside down in seconds — and what happens after the crash is often more confusing than the accident itself.

In this episode, Daniel Kim sits down with three car enthusiasts and social media influencers: Ruben, Paulie, and Miguel. They reminisce about their early car memories, share scary accident stories, address common misconceptions about lawyers, and discuss what to do after a crash.

From insurance company tactics to injury claims and settlement strategies, the conversation sheds light on what most drivers get wrong — and how you can protect yourself before it’s too late.

The DK All the Way Podcast

The DK All the Way Podcast is a candid look inside DK Law — how it started, what drives it, and what it really takes to fight for injured people and their families. Hosted by founders Daniel and Mina Kim, the podcast goes beyond case results and headlines.

Read the full transcript of Episode 2 below.

Paulie: Just that vision of like, “oh, I crashed going 85 and I should have probably died.”

Miguel: How many accidents do you guys see in Southern California when it comes to motorcycles? Is there like a high rate?

Daniel: There’s a lot. Yeah, there’s a lot. After an accident, there are a lot of steps that you need to go ahead and take to make sure that your case is preserved.

Paulie: I couldn’t drive near trucks for months after that. If I saw a semi, I’m like, “No, I’m moving over like five lanes.” Just because all I could think about—like what if I DB’ed again? That PTSD was there.

Daniel: It’s no joke. PTSD happens and absolutely I would agree that you could have that after an accident. You need the right medical care, though.

Paulie: Do you really need an attorney even if your accident or crash isn’t that bad?

Daniel: So that’s one of the biggest misconceptions. Once the accident occurs—safety first, right? You want to make sure: am I okay? Because with a lot of adrenaline, you really don’t know. And matter of fact, I would say about one-third of all of our clients after an accident say, “I think I’m okay.” Like—are you sure about that, buddy? I don’t think so. You need to go in and get checked out.

Paulie: This Daniel Kim guy—he’s smart, guys. This guy knows all kinds of crazy things.

Daniel: All right, welcome to DK Law’s All the Way podcast. Car culture is all about passion and community, but the truth is accidents can change lives in an instant, and we hear these stories every day at DK Law. At our last Cars & Coffee, people even told us they didn’t know that they had a right to an attorney after a serious accident. That’s why we show up—to stand with the car community and fight for those who need help. Today I’m joined by three amazing guests from the car community: we have Ruben, Paul, and Miguel. If we can introduce ourselves, I’d appreciate it.

Ruben: Yeah, I’ll go first. My name is Ruben, also known as Be Distinct on social media, and I essentially modify my own cars and post it online.

Paulie: Yo, what’s up guys? My name is Paulie—ayyepaulyy on all social media. I basically do the same as Ruben: I modify cars, work on them, work with a lot of big companies, and make funny skits. I even throw in some everyday lifestyle videos as well.

Miguel: I’m Miguel, also known as Miguel DSM, and I’m a huge car connoisseur. I’ve been modifying cars for the past decade or so, and it’s just something that I don’t ever see myself stopping.

Daniel: Let’s start with something fun. How did each of you first get into cars? Everyone’s got that one moment.

Ruben: This is how I got into this expensive habit of modifying cars. I’ve always loved cars. I played Midnight Club, all those fun video games. But the moment I got into actually modifying: I’ve always wanted to be some type of star, so I was recording everything on YouTube. I was cooking, singing—everything. I uploaded one video of buying my first car, my G35, and that’s the only video that got views. I was like, let me pursue this—not knowing it was going to be the most expensive choice of my life. But here we are.

Paulie: That’s not bad. I was born in the ’90s, so growing up was the pinnacle of the car world—Fast and Furious, Need for Speed, Midnight. I grew up playing a lot of Need for Speed, always modifying cars. My dad was into cars; he worked on them. When I finally got my first car, I got a 240 and I was like—man, I can’t explain it. There are visions in my head; like an artist, I see a car and think, “It would look so good if you do this, this, or that.” TikTok is what blew me up before TikTok is what it is now. I started posting and everyone was like, “Why are you posting on TikTok? Everyone’s dancing.” I can’t dance for the life of me. I posted one car video—45 million views—and it took off. I’ve been in the game early ever since.

Miguel: Very similar story. I grew up in the early 2000s with Fast and Furious and Need for Speed: Most Wanted. I couldn’t wait to modify my own car. My dad had a Mitsubishi Eclipse like the one in the first Fast and Furious. He sold it and I wanted one as my first project. After high school, first job, got the car cheap, started modifying it, and then we swapped a motor from an EVO. I started making YouTube videos—that got me going on social. It’s been a fun journey.

Daniel: Nice. For me, when I was in high school—junior or senior—Fast and Furious first came out.

Miguel: Did you modify your first car?

Daniel: With a friend. Yeah, I did. Everything and anything was possible from what I knew back then. I did everything to that car.

Paulie: What was your first car?

Daniel: It was a 2001 or 2002 Nissan Maxima SE. I first purchased that car used. It had Momo wheels, it was dropped, and then I put a Greta Evo catalytic converter, some new coils, and a lot of other things.

Paulie: Daniel Kim knows (laughs).

Daniel: That was back then—everyone did that. Cars are more than machines—it’s memories. Track days, meetups, road trips. What’s a favorite car memory you’ll never forget?

Ruben: There are so many. But one that’s engraved: growing up poor, I always looked up to a Lamborghini. The first day I walked into a dealership and saw it in person—it’s smaller than you expect—and it was insane. I’m doing a challenge to buy my first Lamborghini by next year. I think we can do it.

Paulie: One that sticks: going to Japan for the first time with Liberty Walk. They flew us out. I rented an R34 GT-R for 24 hours. You’re not allowed to…but we went ham. I drove everywhere. It was speaking to me in Japanese. It felt like Tokyo Drift. Coolest 24 hours of my life.

Miguel: Happiest moment: when we finished my first project car after the swap. We tuned it late—1:00 a.m.—and that drive home felt so fast. Everything came together. Just me, the road, and boost.

Daniel: My favorite memory: my souped-up Nissan Maxima—the love of my life when I was 17. Later I got called back into the military overseas, and my wife drove it. People knew it as “Danny’s car.” She’d pull up—loud exhaust, slammed, scraping—and the shop guys were like, “That ain’t your vehicle, is it?” Memories last forever.

Daniel: We all enjoy driving and the community that comes with it. But on the flip side, have you ever had an accident or a close call? What was that experience like?

Ruben: Thank God, not many. One incident at a college campus: I was at a stop sign, the other guy didn’t do a full stop and hit me at 5–10 mph. Bumper broke. I went the traditional insurance route. Maybe I will learn something new today about personal injury.

Paulie: I got a juicy one. This is a full carbon Z I have now, but years ago I was moving to Arizona for school. I was “static”—no airbags, super low—with stretched tires to clear wide wheels. Driving ~86 mph. My wheel d-beads—the tire pops off. I had my harness on. But I looked over and my passenger didn’t. We lose control, hit an 18-wheeler. The roof got indented—we went under the trailer enough to stop us going all the way under. I panicked, yanked the e-brake, shot the other way, 360, flew off the road—dirt, debris, everything. Stopped. My passenger looked like a ghost. I thought we were going to flip and die. An F-150 stops—“Bro, are you guys okay? That looked crazy.” Insurance gave me like $5,000. I wish I’d known about personal attorneys then. I paid out of pocket to restore the car. It had frame damage, roof damage. I cried for two days. All my money was in that car. I was 19. Every car guy’s worst fear.

Miguel: So for me, it’s a little different. I rode motorcycles throughout college. One morning in the carpool lane, an AT&T driver crossed the double and cut me off. Motorcycle brakes can only do so much; I slid, my tire smacked his rear bumper, I fell—slight concussion, ACL tear, lower back injury. He claimed there was no contact. My insurance paid for the bike repairs. I never saw anything out of it. It made me realize your life’s on the line. I don’t ride anymore. Motorcycle riders—stay safe.

Ruben: I saw a thing where if you get ejected, an airbag suit pops.

Paulie: Yeah, an airbag within your suit—I’ve seen that for pro riders.

Miguel: Quick question back to the cases: how many motorcycle accidents do you see in Southern California? High rate?

Daniel: There’s a lot. When I move from lane one to HOV, I look far back for motorcyclists—clip them at that speed and it’s really bad.

Paulie: I had a work-comp attorney who passed away from a motorcycle accident—him and his brother. I learned on dirt bikes at four. I had a CBR600RR—’06 graffiti edition—dream bike. One day I was going…let’s say triple digits. A car got in front of me, then merged back. If I’d hit them, I’d be dead. I went home, cried, sold the bike two days later. I love riding, but it’s not worth it. When you’re young, you don’t care.

Miguel: It’s not worth it in my opinion.

Daniel: When you’re really young, you don’t think. When I was 17 with the Maxima, I thought I was king of the world. I don’t promote this—don’t ever drag race—but I did. We didn’t set an end point. My friend in a Lexus GS spun out; undercarriage toasted. Crazy story. I’d never do that again. Always be safe.

Ruben: These are why I didn’t ride—and why my mom told me not to. Thank God I listened.

Paulie: I still miss it sometimes, but I shouldn’t.

Daniel: Car culture is exciting, but hearing your stories reminds us why we need to talk about the other side: safety, what happens when accidents occur, and the tough questions people face afterward. People always have a ton of questions after an accident.

Paulie: I have a quick one: do you really need an attorney even if your crash isn’t that bad?

Daniel: That’s one of the biggest misconceptions. People think, “I don’t have injuries, so I’m okay,” but your adrenaline masks pain. A doctor—MD, chiropractor, someone who understands crash dynamics—needs to look at you. Disc herniations, for example, aren’t always felt immediately. So yes. About one-third of our clients after big accidents say, “I think I’m okay.” You need to get checked out.

Miguel: I think people are scared to pay a lawyer upfront.

Daniel: Another misconception. Business litigation is hourly, sure. Personal injury is contingency—no upfront fees. If we don’t win, our percentage of zero is zero. Anyone can be represented after an auto accident.

Ruben: If someone contacts an attorney, is the process long or stressful? Longer than calling insurance?

Daniel: Our job is to take the stress away. Most people don’t understand claims or litigation. We handle paperwork, calls with carriers—so you can focus on medical care. If your car’s busted, you’ve got to fix/replace it—assuming you’re okay. If you’re the sole breadwinner, stress is high. We remove what you don’t need so you can focus on health.

Miguel: For viewers who just had an accident, what’s the step-by-step up to getting an attorney?

Daniel: First: safety. Am I okay? Adrenaline hides injuries. If your vehicle is in a dangerous spot, get to a safe area. Call 911 so they can document and question people—stories change fast. Preserve evidence: photos, video, witness contact info. Scope the scene—independent witnesses can make or break liability. Don’t speak to the other party’s insurer—or even your own about injuries—before counsel. People assume, “I pay premiums, they’re for me.” From a business standpoint, insurers profit by paying as little as possible. Think with that mindset: their objective is to undervalue your claim.

Daniel (cont’d): Liability insurance applies when the other party’s at fault. If they have no or low limits and your injuries are significant, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage lets you tap your own policy. Because your own carrier then has exposure, they’re also not fully on your side. You can describe the accident facts to your carrier, but for injuries, tell them you have an attorney and won’t discuss that.

Paulie: Even if you’re not hurt but your car’s gone—can they still contact you?

Daniel: Some firms help with property damage; we do. Other law firms don’t. Also, some people don’t feel pain immediately—nerve issues can mask it. Athletes and ex-military often have high pain tolerance and struggle to voice it. Even if you feel fine, let a medical professional tell you that.

Paulie: I had PTSD. I couldn’t drive near trucks for months—sweaty hands, nightmares. Even now, I get anxious. If you’re not hurt but have PTSD, is that part of a claim?

Daniel: Yes. Two components: special damages (quantifiable: medical bills, loss of wages) and general damages (pain, suffering, inconvenience, fear—PTSD). Tech and medicine can help quantify some of it now, but even when they can’t be precisely numbered, it’s compensable. PTSD absolutely occurs after accidents. I had it after Baghdad—IED booms. Back in OC, we lived across from Angel Stadium—after wins, fireworks went boom and I’d flinch. My wife said, “My husband’s got PTSD—he’s gotta get fixed.” It’s real. You need the right medical care.

Ruben: In my culture we’re taught to “walk it off.” A friend had a minor parking lot accident—fine that day, three days later severe back pain and an ER bill.

Daniel: There’s a nuance called the eggshell skull plaintiff. If you’re more fragile than average due to a pre-existing condition or prior surgery, and a minor tap causes major harm, the negligent party is still responsible for the actual harm. Not saying that’s your friend, but it’s a thing to consider.

Paulie: Yo, this Daniel Kim guy—he’s smart. Y’all need to hit him up.

Ruben: What if the other person wasn’t insured?

Daniel: Practically, I tell clients to protect themselves with UM/UIM. If the at-fault party is judgment-proof—say, 18, broke, no assets—even if you get a judgment, how do you collect? It’s not “how much should you get paid,” but “how much can you.” Preempt it with proper coverage.

Daniel (cont’d): These are all really good questions. You don’t know what you don’t know. Insurance helps you protect yourself when things get bad.

Miguel: What if you’re negligent?

Daniel: Good question. That wouldn’t be me, because I am a plaintiff’s attorney. If you get served documents, you would go to your insurance company and they may hire a defense firm.

Daniel: Here’s why you gotta call a personal injury attorney. After an accident, there are a lot of steps you need to take. An attorney knows all the steps that are needed to ensure your rights are protected.

Paulie: What if it’s not a car accident? Do you only do cars?

Ruben: What if you’re walking in front of a store and it has uneven concrete and you trip on it?

Daniel: Our firm also does premises liability cases.

Daniel: We’re super excited for our October Cars & Coffee—another great community event: car shows, coffee, giveaways, and our DK Law booth with live Q&As with attorneys.

Paulie: The one we had in August was really fun. DK Law gave away a Nintendo Switch and over $1,000. They’re giving back to the community.

Daniel: What I love about Cars & Coffee is it’s for everyone—any demographic. You meet all sorts of people. I learned that in the military—working with people from all over. Also, I had no idea how hard the racing sim was. I would’ve died in real life.

Paulie: You don’t have to be a car person to come—just hang out, ask questions, have fun.

Miguel: Make friends—maybe meet your wife. (laughs)

Ruben: I switched from night meets to Cars & Coffee—chill vibes, fewer hooligans, fewer tickets.

Paulie: As a creator, night meets are content, but cops and tickets are not it. Cars & Coffee is family friendly. If you want to make friends in the car community, this is the way. Come say hi to us, ask about the EVO swap—opportunities start from there.

Paulie (cont’d): People get nervous around “influencers,” but if you come up to us, we’ll talk and answer questions. We’ve all seen folks act “too cool” until they learn you have followers—we’re not those guys.

Miguel: Are there going to be more giveaways for the next Cars & Coffee?

Daniel: There’s going to be a lot…you’ll have to stay tuned.

All: Stay tuned!

Daniel: Join us this October—cars, coffee, community, and real conversations about safety. We’ll announce details soon.

Daniel: Thank you to Ruben, Paul, and Miguel for joining us today. To everyone listening, follow, share with your friends, and come hang out at the next Cars & Coffee.

All: See you at the next one!

Daniel: At DK Law, we go all the way for our clients and community. If you’re injured in an accident, just give us a phone call.

[Music]