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You may have at some point, heard that New York City ranks third in traffic congestion in the world, and second in the United States. This may not be too hard to believe but as much as it’s costing the average motorists thousands of dollars just for sitting in traffic, the risks of being involved in an accident are even higher. So, you’re there, stuck in upper Manhattan, late for work and still trying to come up with the best excuse for running late. For a minute you take your eyes off the road and suddenly, you’ve hit something! The other aggravated motorists are honking hard because you’ve blocked traffic and now, they are also late. So what do you do when this happens? Here’s how to handle a car accident in New York City.
At The Scene of The Accident
Accidents can happen at any given time and there is no better way to prevent it from happening. It may involve another moving car, a pedestrian, someone’s property, or a parked car. Irrespective of the nature of the accident, it’s imperative to stop. If involved in any kind of road accident in New York, the law requires that you stop and share your information with the other party. Failure to do this could see you face serious criminal charges, all depending on the severity of the damages or injuries caused.
While at the scene of the accident, call for help. You, the other driver, or the passengers in both vehicles could be injured and needing medical attention. Calling 911 will get you both ambulance services and police assistance. Leave all the medical care to the medical professionals or paramedics and do not attempt to move an injured person unless their lives are in danger. If you can, it’s best to consider getting off the road to a safer place away from moving traffic as you wait for help.
Gather and Exchange Information
Every driver is required by the law that after being involved in an accident they exchange with the other driver or passengers and security personnel/law enforcement. This is not the time and the place to engage in heated arguments with the other driver. In the heat of the moment, you may lose your cool and it’s important to avoid this at all costs.
Ensure that you have the other driver’s registration, insurance card, and license details. In addition to this, their addresses, full names, and identification number will also be important when it comes to pursuing your claim from their insurance company or your own in case they’re uninsured or underinsured. Be sure to get these crucial pieces of information before leaving the scene of the accident if possible.
Get Medical Attention
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No matter how minor you may think your injuries are, it’s imperative to have a medical examination done by a qualified medical care provider. Attorney Bart D. Kaplan, an experienced New York City car accident lawyer from Kaplan Lawyers PC says that one of the top-most mistakes people make after being involved in an accident is failing to seek medical attention assuming that their injuries are minor, they’re okay, or they will get better. However, some injuries from an accident may be internal and may not show right away. They could even lead to major complications or health issues in the future, so be sure to seek help right away and don’t forget to mention to the examining doctor, any injury or complaint you may have before leaving the hospital.
Report the Accident to Your Insurer
Whenever you’re involved in a car accident in New York City, it’s important to notify your insurer immediately or as soon as you can. Failure to do this could see the insurance company denying your claim. Your car insurance provider or the company in question may also require to get a police report of the accident as well as a medical report in case you got injured in the ordeal.
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Being involved in a car accident can be a horrific event that normally involves so many legal issues. It gets even more complicated when there are injuries sustained and damages to be paid for or repairs to be done. All the same, knowing what to do when involved in an accident can help you get through the situation and get back to your normal life with ease. Most importantly, hiring an experienced car accident attorney will be instrumental in the whole process as they’ll help you through the process of filing for claims, see to it that you get fair compensation, and ensure that your rights are protected.