A Step-by-Step Guide on What to Do After a New York City Car Accident
You’re driving home from work when all of a sudden, someone rear-ends you. This isn’t an uncommon occurrence in New York. Even though you weren’t hurt that badly and your car isn’t too damaged, there are still a series of steps you have to take after a New York City car accident.
For example, it’s hard to obtain compensation to get your car fixed if you don’t contact your insurance provider. There’s also the matter of your injuries. You’ll need to get looked over.
It doesn’t matter if you feel hurt or not. Keep reading for the full list of things that you’ve got to do.
Don’t Move
When an NYC car accident happens, you have to stay where you are. Don’t drive off. Leave both cars exactly the way they are.
The only exception to this rule is if the cars are in the middle of the road or are in some other type of dangerous position.
Get Help
If you’re uninjured, it’s your duty to help those who are less fortunate than you. Get help right away by dialing 911. This will get both the police and an ambulance to your location as fast as possible.
Don’t try to help the injured person yourself. If you’re not trained in first aid, you may end up doing more harm than good.
Don’t try to move the person. If you jostle them around too much, you may exacerbate their injuries.
Record Information
The more information you record, the more a car accident lawyer can do for you. Find out the other driver’s home address, phone number, name, and identification number of their insurance company.
When the cops arrive on the scene, get their badge number, and ask to get a copy of the police report.
See a Doctor
Even if you don’t think you’ve been injured, you still need to get checked over by a doctor. Tell the physician about every cut, bruise, and pain.
Some issues might not seem major but can become a huge problem if they’re left unchecked. You could have a serious internal injury without even realizing it. If you’re not sure which doctor to go to, this Accident Help Zone can give you a few pointers.
Get on the Phone with Your Insurance Provider
After you get looked over by a doctor, it’s time to get on the phone with your insurance company to discuss your car accident in New York City.
There is a small window of opportunity to call them. If you miss it, they may very well deny your claim.
Everything You Should Do After a New York City Car Accident
After you’ve been in a New York City car accident, there are a series of things that you’ll have to do. If you fail to do the things on this list, you might not be able to get the compensation you need to pay for car repairs and hospital bills.
If your claim has been denied, call an experienced lawyer to fight for you. Our blog can walk you through all the steps of finding and hiring an attorney.
