Shock is one of the most common feelings people experience immediately following a car accident. This feeling also creates panic and there are things that those injured forget to do to protect their rights to file a claim to seek compensation.
Not everyone recognizes the steps that can help them provide evidence in their case, and they are often missed creating significant problems for a claim. Below are some of the things you should look out for to protect your rights after an accident.
1. Call for Help
An immediate call to 911 will summon police and ambulance. Let them know if there are injuries.
2. Getting Medical Treatment at the Scene or In the Emergency Room
Depending on the severity of the injuries you have sustained, you may need medical treatment as quickly as possible.
You may need to go to the emergency room. When you speak to the ambulance attendants or the hospital personal be sure to describe all the pains you are suffering and body parts that have been affected. Remember, these are medical personnel--Avoid discussing with them how the accident happened or putting a number on the severity of the accident. Medical attention also provides you with medical records that you can use to show the injuries you have sustained and that they have been caused by this accident.
If your injuries persist, follow up with a private physician who accepts “No Fault Coverage” as payment. In most cases, your private insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid will not cover your initial treatment. We can help you confirm that a medical facility will accept No Fault so you can obtain needed treatment.
If you speak with the police, you can describe the accident, but do not accept responsibility for the accident.
The determination of fault is a legal issue that should be communicated through our office during the course of your case.
3. Take Pictures to Help Your Case
Taking pictures can be beneficial. Take photos of your vehicle and any other vehicles showing damage, location and license plates. If possible, take those photos before the vehicles are moved. Take as many as you can from different perspectives. Also, photos of location or roadway may be helpful. For example, if you see tire marks on the floor indicating that one of the vehicles had to brake harder than normal, this may be looked at when determining negligence.
4. Get Witnesses to Provide You Contact Information
Witnesses can be imperative to helping you file a claim successfully. These are individuals who can explain the backstory of the accident and their claims can be supportive of your statement, which can help to show that the other party was liable.
If you can, speak with the witnesses and get their contact information to provide to your insurance company and legal representation. Our firm will contact the witnesses to get their account of the accident.
5. If Possible, Speak with the Responsible Party About Contact Information
These are just a few of the things you want to get after the crash:
- The other driver’s license
- The other driver’s contact information
- The other driver’s insurance information
- License plate info
Usually, once the police come, they may not let you speak to the other parties, so try to get this information early on.
6. If You Are Injured, Speak With an Attorney as Soon as Possible.
We can advise you of your rights and assist you in reporting the incident to your insurance company. We will make claims for your medical treatment payments, disability benefits and pain and suffering claim against the other side. Do not discuss your case or your injuries with someone who contacts you out of the blue. If someone insists, take their contact information and turn it over to our office.
7. Protecting Your Rights with Legal Representation
While many individuals wondering if they can handle their claim on their own, there are some cases that can be severely damaged when trying to go through the process without legal counsel. This is because the insurance company you’re going up against has their own legal protection that is experienced in denying or minimizing accident claims.
When they try to turn you and your claim away, you need legal representation to step in and show that the other party did in fact act in negligence and that their actions resulted in significant injuries. This could help you pursue the most favorable outcome possible.
At Koenigsberg & Associates Law Offices, we work hard to put our clients in the most favorable position to hold the negligent party accountable. In no-fault matters or in those that exceed the limits of no-fault insurance, we utilize our more than 25 years to protect the rights of our clients.
Our New York car accident attorneys are on your side at all times and work hard to guide you throughout the entire process. Trust us to keep your best interests in mind and go the extra mile for your rights, your compensation, your future, and your justice.
Call our firm at (718) 690-3132 to
schedule a free consultation today.