What to Do After a Car Accident in NY
If you have been in a car accident it can be quite confusing and hard to know what to do next. In all cases, the number one priority is going to be getting yourself and anyone else involved any medical attention that is needed. In addition, contacting the police so they can help and so they can write up a report is necessary. Knowing what to do next, however, is going to be very important either for protecting yourself from a lawsuit, or for filing a lawsuit to help ensure you can be awarded any damages that you are entitled to. The following steps are important and can be very helpful in any type of lawsuit.
Take Pictures of the Scene
Just about everyone today has a camera with them at all times thanks to cell phones. If you do not need to go to the hospital right away, it often times does not mean that you are not injured. Injuries can manifest themselves weeks or even months after an accident. Take a few minutes to take photographs of the accident scene, documenting any damage to your vehicle, any injuries that you or a loved one sustained, and anything else that you can see around the area. These pictures may be beneficial in the future, so provide them to your attorney who will decide if, when and how to use them in your action. Also, talk to any witnesses of the accident and get their contact information.
Get Contact Information
Once everyone has been confirmed to be safe, make sure you get the contact information of everyone involved. This includes information from other parties in the accident, and should also include any witnesses to the accident. Being able to contact people after an accident to get a statement from them can be very helpful in some situations. Providing this information to your attorney can be crucial in your case.
Get the Police Report
Asking the officer on the scene for the police report number is always a good idea. This can make it a lot easier to get a copy of the report when it is ready. It also helps to ensure that the officer will actually write up a report, which is often imperative in the event of a lawsuit. Once the police report is ready (typically a day or two after the accident) request a copy of it for your records.
Document Your Memories
As soon as possible after the accident, make sure you document your memories of what happened as soon as possible. You can write them down, or record yourself telling what happened. People are often surprised at how quickly they start forgetting details, which is why you want to do this step as fast as you can. Document everything you remember about the time leading up to the accident, the accident itself, and what happened after the accident. All this information can prove to be very helpful in a car accident case.
Contact an Attorney
The next thing to do is contact Car Accident Lawyer NY. Even if you are not sure that you will have a good legal case, it is best to go over the situation with an expert. Attorney Alexander Karasik, ESQ, has helped many people through a wide range of different car accident situations, and he will passionately fight for your rights too. To get in touch with him, please call 347-798-8887.