After a motor vehicle collision in New York, it is important to take a variety of steps in order to protect your eligibility to seek financial compensation through an auto insurance claim or a car accident lawsuit. There is a significant amount of information available about the things you should do after a motor vehicle collision, but it is also critical to know what you should not do following a crash. Our New York auto accident lawyers have some tips to help guide you as you prepare to file a no-fault insurance claim and to determine your ability to file a lawsuit against the motorist who caused your injuries.
Do Not Leave the Scene Without Collecting Information
Never leave the scene of a crash without collecting information that you will need to build your case later on. Be sure to obtain contact information for witnesses, contact and insurance information for anyone else involved in the crash, and photographs that can be used to support your claim.
Do Not Assume Your Injuries are Minor
You should never assume that your injuries are minor and avoid seeking a medical assessment from a healthcare provider. Not only can many car accident injuries take hours or days to produce obvious signs and symptoms, but if you wait to get treatment, your injuries can worsen significantly. If your injuries worsen as a result of your own delay, your pain and suffering, and your healthcare costs, can be much worse. In addition, under New York’s comparative fault law, the at-fault driver could argue that you are partially to blame for the severity of your injuries and that you are not entitled to a full damages award.
Do Not Apologize or Admit Fault
According to https://dwpersonalinjurylaw.com/, you should never apologize to anyone at the scene of the accident, and do not admit fault. Even if you think you might be partially to blame for the crash, it is essential to avoid making any statement that could be used against you to reduce your eligibility for financial compensation.
Do Not Wait to Contact Your Auto Insurer
While you might not be focused on reporting the accident to your insurer, it is important to contact your auto insurance company as soon as possible to report the accident. When you speak to the insurer, you should avoid making any statements that could be construed as an admission of fault, including apologizing.
Do Not Delay in Seeking Advice from a Car Accident Lawyer
Failing to seek advice as soon as possible from a car accident lawyer can be a serious mistake. You could end up limiting your ability to file a successful lawsuit later on.
Contact an Experienced New York Car Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a motor vehicle collision, it is important to seek advice from a New York car accident lawyer as soon as possible. You should have an attorney on your side when you file your auto insurance claim to ensure that you are treated fairly by the insurance company, but you should also begin determining your eligibility to file a lawsuit against the responsible party. Your car accident lawyer can assess your case to determine whether your case meets the serious injury threshold required by New York law, and your attorney can begin working on building your case against the at-fault driver. Contact Leitner Varughese Warywoda PLLC to learn more about how we can assist you.
