Car Accident Checklist

• Safety first – Stop your vehicle and turn off your engine. Make sure it is safe to get out of your car. If the car poses a safety threat to other traffic, move cars to the side of the road, out of the way of oncoming traffic. Use hazard lights, flares or safety triangles. Try to determine if anyone involved in the accident needs medical assistance. If the car cannot be moved or if you are injured, stay in the car with your seat belt fastened.
• Contact NYPD – Call 911 to notify police of your accident. 911 service is available throughout New York City, including Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn and the Bronx. The police will arrange for an ambulance if needed.
• Exchange info – Exchange contact and insurance information with the other motorists involved in the accident. Get the name, address, phone number, employer, work phone number, insurance company, insurance policy number, driver’s license number and license plate number for the driver and owner of each vehicle. If the driver’s name is different from the name of the insured, understand what the relationship is and jot down the name and address for each individual. Be sure to get the make, model, color and year of each car.
• Document the accident – Take notes about the accident and, if possible, take photographs with your cell phone or a camera. As soon as possible, write down the time and place, the weather and road conditions. Draw a diagram showing the position of the vehicles involved in the accident and the direction that each vehicle was travelling. This type of record keeping is for potential litigation. You should give it only to your personal injury lawyer.
• Find witnesses – Try to get the names and contact information for any witnesses who saw the accident. They may be able to help if other drivers dispute your description of how the accident happened.
• Don’t admit fault – Do not make any comments about how the accident happened or whose fault you think it was, unless a police officer is questioning you. You may have the best of intentions, but any comments you make may be used against you when your accident lawyer seeks to settle the case or if there is a trial.
• Seek medical help – If you are not taken from the accident by ambulance, be sure to visit an emergency room or doctor for a checkup. Even if you don’t feel hurt, go to your doctor for an evaluation. People in car accidents often develop aches and pains days later.
• File an accident report – You should file a report, which is available at police stations or online at the Department of Motor Vehicles website. Report the accident to your insurance company, even if you think the other driver is at fault. To protect your rights to insurance coverage, your insurance company is entitled to be notified by you about the accident, any injuries to you or other passengers and damage to the car. If the report is not filed, you may struggle during an insurance claim process.
• Consult a lawyer – Call an experienced NY car accident lawyer to understand your legal rights and legal options. Then you can make informed decisions. David Resnick & Associates, P.C., will analyze the facts regarding your claim, work with your insurance company and doctors, prepare legal documents and negotiate a fair settlement.

Our Attorneys Also Focus on The Following Areas in Car Accident:

• Car Accident Insurance
• Hit-And-Run Accident
• Fatal Car Accident
• Maximum Compensation
• Multi-Vehicle Accident
• Rear-End Accident
• Speeding Accident