What Are the Do’s and Don’ts Following a Car Accident?
Following a car accident, there are several things you should do and several things you should avoid doing. To ensure you make all the right moves and avoid all the pitfalls that could jeopardize your claim, you should hire a car accident lawyer. But before you do this, read through the do’s and don’ts below so you have a good idea of what to expect when you pursue a car accident claim. We provide most affordable car accident lawyer Bayside services!
Call 1-800-HURT-511 now to speak with our sought-after car accident lawyers in Bayside. We’ve been helping car accident victims for more than a decade, and we’ll exhaust every option to help you get the compensation you deserve!
Should You Help Injured Parties Immediately Following a Car Accident?
Don’t do this! Unless failure to provide assistance is going to result in the needless death of another human being—such as when somebody’s unconscious and in a car that’s on fire—you should refrain from helping injured parties. You may exacerbate someone’s injuries in the course of trying to help them, and they may turn around and sue you afterward for doing so. It’s best to wait for the paramedics to arrive, as they’ll assist all injured individuals at the scene and bring severely injured parties to the nearest emergency room as necessary.
Do You Call the Police in the Wake of an Accident?
Yes! Even though parties to a car accident in New York are only legally bound to call the police if an accident results in injuries or death, you should still give the police a call following a car accident, as responding officers can provide assistance at the scene and file a police report later on. The police report will serve as a piece of valuable evidence when you go to file a claim, and responding officers can be called as witnesses if their testimonies strengthen your case.
Do You Apologize to Involved Parties After a Car Accident?
Don’t do this! Following a car accident, you may be inclined to apologize to other parties who were involved in the crash. You should refrain from doing this, as apologizing could be taken as an admission of fault; your insurance provider will certainly think so. Of course a car accident is unfortunate for all those involved, but acknowledging such in this way could restrict your ability to receive fair compensation.
Do You Take Pictures of Your Injuries After a Car Accident?
Yes! If you’re able to, you should take pictures of your injuries following a car accident. Just make sure you’re not smiling in these pictures, as a smile may falsely indicate that you aren’t that injured. It’s best if you take the pictures on your own, but if this isn’t possible, you can have a witness take them for you. Just be aware that involving a witness in this way may prohibit them from testifying on your behalf later on.
Do You Seek Medical Aid Immediately After a Car Accident?
Yes! Seeking medical aid after a car accident is incredibly important. Even if you don’t believe you were significantly injured by the accident, you should still seek medical aid, as it may be that you have injuries that aren’t manifesting right away. Getting medical help from paramedics who respond to the scene is advised, but you should also visit physicians at a hospital so you can get properly treated and examined in a calm setting, where all the things you’ll need to get better are present.
If you don’t get medical attention right away, and accident-related injuries manifest later on, it’ll be hard to tie these injuries to the accident, meaning it’ll be hard to get compensation for these injuries later on. And should it be necessary, the physician who treats you can testify on your behalf.
Do You Get the Car Accident Claim Process Started Right Away?
Yes! You should get the car accident claim process started as soon as you can. For one, evidence depreciates. Furthermore, you may be penalized for delaying your insurance provider’s investigation. A lot of New York car accident victims believe that since they have three years to file a claim, they don’t need to file right away. This is the wrong approach! If you don’t file right away, you may be limiting how much you can receive in compensation.
Do You Hire an Accident Lawyer to Help You File a Claim?
Yes! You should hire a car accident lawyer for a variety of reasons. A car accident lawyer will negotiate with your insurance provider, gather all necessary evidence, ensure you get treated by competent medical professionals, and defend your interests in court (should the claim go to trial). And you won’t even have to pay upfront costs if you hire a lawyer, as car accident lawyers work on contingency, meaning they only get paid if you receive an award.
Do You Interact With Your Insurance Provider Without Your Lawyer Present?
Don’t do this! Interacting with your insurance provider or other involved parties’ insurance providers without your lawyer present can lead to some costly mistakes. For example, you may admit fault unknowingly and then limit your ability to receive proper compensation later on. Also, you may be persuaded into accepting a settlement that’s much lower than what you deserve. A car accident lawyer will prep you before you speak to your insurance provider, and they’ll do so to ensure you don’t get taken advantage of.
Do You Talk About the Status of Your Claim on Social Media?
Don’t do this! In this day and age, where almost everyone is on social media, a lot of people use their channels to vent frustrations. Social media is not where you should discuss what’s going on with your car accident faq claim. You may post something that gets back to the involved insurance providers, and they may use this post against you to restrict you from seeking compensation. It’s already happened plenty of times in recent years.
Give us a call at 1-800-HURT-511 if you’ve been injured in a car accident recently and you’re looking to see what your options are. Our car accident lawyers in Bayside would love to help you!
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