How to Protect Yourself After a Car Accident
Driving in a busy city like New York can be a risky endeavor. However, there are steps you can take to protect yourself after a car accident.
An attorney will help you avoid making statements that could hurt your claim later on. They can also negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Contact Car Accident Attorney Rockville now!
- Ensure Your Safety
If you get into a car accident, you want to make sure that you and any passengers are safe. Even a minor crash can result in debilitating injuries and a costly recovery. If possible, pull over in a safe place and stop the vehicle as soon as it is no longer a hazard. If there are any injuries, call 911. It is also important to stay at the scene, especially if there are young children, pets, incapacitated adults or non-ambulatory elders in the car. Let first responders remove them from the car, so they can check for injuries that may not be immediately apparent.
Get a good look at the damage to your car and take photos from multiple angles, including close-ups of any broken windows. Be sure to capture the vehicle make, model and license plate, as well as any nearby objects that were involved in the collision (like street signs or traffic signals). If you are able to move, take pictures of the entire accident scene. This will help the police and insurance companies identify the cause of the accident later on.
A good lawyer is also skilled at dealing with insurance adjusters and will be able to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. They will be prepared for any tactics the insurance company tries to use and can review your claim to ensure that you are seeking all of the damages you are entitled to receive.
A top Manhattan car accident attorney will have a solid track record and a reputation for getting results. They will also have a network of connections and resources that they can draw on to support your case, including access to expert witnesses. In addition, a reputable lawyer will work on a contingency fee basis, which means that they only get paid if they win your case.
- Seek Medical Attention
It is important to seek medical attention for any injuries you may have sustained in a car accident, even if they are not immediately apparent. It is common for many accidents to result in hidden injuries, such as internal bleeding or soft tissue damage. These injuries can worsen if left untreated, potentially leading to long-term disabilities and costly treatments.
Visiting a doctor will help you get proper treatment for any injuries, but it can also benefit your legal case if you end up filing a claim against the at-fault party. The official medical documentation of your injuries is vital to establishing that they were directly caused by the car accident and can be linked back to it. Without this proof, insurance companies may try to dispute your injuries or the severity of them in an attempt to avoid paying you adequate compensation.
A physician will perform a thorough examination of your body and can provide you with the documentation you need to support your injury claims. In addition, you should keep all medical records, test results, physician notes, and other documents related to your treatment in a safe place. They will be needed later on if you decide to file an injury claim against the at-fault party.
It is critical to follow your doctor’s instructions regarding your recovery process. This means taking all prescribed medications, participating in physical therapy, and attending all follow-up appointments. This will show that you are truly dedicated to addressing your injuries and ensuring a full recovery. It will also help establish a clear link between your injuries and the accident that caused them, which can strengthen your legal position in a court of law.
- Document Your Injuries
Car accident injuries can take a major physical toll on your body, and they can also have a serious impact on your finances. Your medical expenses can add up quickly and missing days, weeks, or even months of work due to your injuries can put a strain on your paycheck. It is important to document your injuries in order to build a strong case for a financial settlement. Medical documentation can help rebut any arguments by the defense that your injuries were pre-existing or not related to the car accident at all.
Take detailed photographs of the accident scene, including damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles involved in the collision as well as any visible injuries you suffered. This photographic evidence will provide valuable support in your claim, particularly when coupled with other documented proof of your injuries, such as hospital intake and discharge documents, doctors’ assessments, MRI/CAT scan images and X-rays, and treatment plans.
Additionally, keep a detailed injury diary, detailing your symptoms and the impact that your injuries have had on your life. This will also serve as useful evidence for your case if it goes to trial.
Lastly, speak to any witnesses to the accident, and try to get their statements as well. Witness testimony can bolster your story and provide additional support for your claim.
- Report the Accident
While at the scene of a crash, it is crucial to gather as much information as possible. This will help your lawyer at a later date when it comes to filing an insurance claim. Ideally, you will take pictures of the accident and the vehicles involved in it as well as the condition of the roads, weather conditions, any signs present, and more. It is also helpful to write down personal notes as you remember what happened. Getting the other drivers’ information is also important such as their name, license plate number, address, insurance company, and policy number. If there are witnesses, be sure to get their names and contact information as well.
If there are police officers on the scene, answer any questions they may have. However, be careful not to admit fault or make statements that can be used against you in court at a later date. If you can, try to get the officer’s name and badge number so you can follow up with them if you remember additional details about the accident later on.
Even if an accident seems minor, it is crucial to report it to the police as soon as you can. This will give the police a chance to examine the scene and document any information about driver infractions or moving violations. It will also improve your chances of a successful injury claim in the future.
In the event that you cannot reach the police, file a report at your local police department or Department of Motor Vehicles. Be sure to provide as much information as possible, including the date and time of the accident as well as your name, driver’s license number, and insurance policy number. The police report will play a big role in how your injuries are treated, so it’s essential that you carefully review it for errors. If you spot any inaccuracies, contact the police department and find out their procedure for amending a police report.
- Contact an Attorney
A car accident attorney can help you to recover all the compensation to which you are entitled. This may include medical expenses, lost wages from time off work, vehicle repair or replacement costs, pain and suffering and emotional trauma. They can also file a claim for other losses, such as the value of your traumatic experience or disfigurement. They can even pursue compensation if you suffered the loss of a loved one in a fatal crash.
An experienced car accident lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company to reach an offer that accounts for all your losses. They are familiar with the tactics that insurers use to reduce or deny claims, and they will fight ruthlessly on your behalf.
They can even help you to pursue compensation if you were partially at fault for the accident. New York operates under a system of pure comparative negligence, which means that you can still recover damages if you were 40% at fault for the accident.
In the event of a hit-and-run, an attorney can help you find the driver who fled from the scene. They can also help you file a claim for uninsured motorist coverage in this case, which will cover your losses if the other driver doesn’t have any insurance.
A good car accident attorney will have a large network of resources, such as medical professionals and accident reconstruction experts, that they can call upon to support your case. Additionally, they will be aware of important legal deadlines, such as the statute of limitations for filing personal injury lawsuits in your state. This way, they can ensure that your lawsuit is submitted on time.
