- Call the police and seek medical care right away (even if injuries seem minor).
- Document everything at the scene to protect your personal injury claim.
- Consult a personal injury attorney within 48 hours.
Even a simple fender bender can cause significant stress. Many people lose their concentration and make mistakes that later hurt their personal injury cases. While staying collected in the immediate aftermath of a collision in New York can be complicated, it’s important to take several steps within 48 hours to protect your rights.
The legal team from Law Office of Joseph J. Perrini, III has decades of experience navigating personal injury cases in Long Island, Queens, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. They prepared a simple “what to do after an accident” checklist that covers all the key legal points.
Immediate Actions at the Scene of the Collision
The priority is always the health of everyone involved in the accident. Even if it seems that injuries are minor, you must be careful about making sudden movements. The first step should always be to check for injuries and call for assistance.
If you believe emergency medical help is unnecessary, you must still call the police. The police will file an official report containing key data points, including the circumstances of the accident and the contact details of the eyewitnesses.
In case your injuries are minor, you can collect valuable evidence, including:
- Photos of the scene and all involved vehicles from different angles
- Contact information of everyone involved
- Contact details of eyewitnesses
The more information you can collect immediately after the crash, the easier it will be to recover fair compensation for your damages.
Navigating the First 24 Hours: Medical and Insurance Reporting
If you don’t require emergency medical assistance, you still need to visit the doctor within 24 hours after the accident. Not all medical issues manifest themselves immediately. A medical professional can evaluate your condition and write a medical report. This documentation will be crucial to making your case in a personal injury claim.
No matter how short or long your treatment is, you have to collect all the relevant paperwork, including doctors’ reports, prescriptions, and referrals to specialists.
The next step after taking care of your health is notifying the insurance provider. While you can share data about the accident, avoid making statements. Even partially admitting your fault could hurt your case. To prevent mistakes, you have the right to delegate all conversations with the insurance company to your attorney.
The legal team from the Law Office of Joseph J. Perrini, III can manage all communications with insurance adjusters.
The 48-Hour Follow-Up: Organization and Legal Consultation
Hiring an attorney within 48 hours after the accident can help avoid mistakes and improve your chances of receiving compensation. While an attorney can explain exactly what to do after a car accident, you can still take advantage of this simple checklist:
At the Scene
- Check yourself and others for injuries
- Call 911 for medical help if needed
- Call the police
- Take photos of vehicle damage, license plates, road conditions, traffic signs, and injuries
- Exchange insurance information with all drivers
- Collect contact details of eyewitnesses
Within the First 24 Hours
- Seek medical evaluation, even if you feel fine
- Follow all treatment recommendations
- Save medical records, discharge papers, prescriptions, and referrals
- Notify your insurance company about the accident
Within 48 Hours
- Organize all accident-related documents and photos
- Request a copy of the police report
- Contact a personal injury attorney for a consultation
Take the time to review these follow-up tasks after the car accident to make sure you don’t miss any important steps.
Protect Your Rights with the Law Office of Joseph J. Perrini, III
Building a personal injury case without professional legal assistance could lead to errors, even if you check off all the boxes on the list.
The legal team from the Law Office of Joseph J. Perrini, III can help you navigate the case professionally. We work hard to help people in the five boroughs get the money they deserve. Call us at 516-221-7900 or fill out a consultation request form today.
Image credit: // Shutterstock // Daniel Tadevosyan
