Car crashes often deeply affect victims, causing compensable economic and non-economic damages.
Before leaving a crash site, call the police and wait for them to arrive. Answer their questions about the accident and how the at-fault driver was negligent so they can write a report, which our lawyers can help you obtain in the following days. Take pictures of damage to your car and debris on the road, as crash reconstruction experts may need these images to determine a collision’s cause. When you leave the accident location, go directly to the hospital and let paramedics take you there if necessary. As you physically recover, our attorneys can identify your compensable damages and prepare your case to file it within the three-year window of opportunity.
Call The Martello Law Firm, PLLC at (914) 685-6950 for a free case analysis from our Yonkers, NY car accident lawyers.
Your Checklist for Before Leaving a Car Accident Scene in Yorktown Heights
Taking the proper steps before leaving the scene of a car accident is vital, especially if you need compensatory damages for injuries due to negligence. Start by calling 911 and waiting for law enforcement to arrive, even if the other driver leaves. Always take pictures of property damage to preserve evidence, and ask anyone who witnessed the accident for their contact details so we can interview them as soon as possible.
Call 911 and Talk to the Police
Reporting car accidents is important, as police officers can help victims preserve evidence and document pertinent details. You can call 911 to report any collision, no matter how serious. When speaking with the 911 operator, tell them your location and if you are injured and need medical attention from paramedics. Do not deny care from emergency medical professionals, as officers might note this in their report.
While discussing the accident with law enforcement, tell them what happened to the best of your ability. Recall how the other driver was negligent, whether they hit you because they were speeding, made an illegal turn, ignored your right of way, or otherwise breached their duty of care as a driver.
Victims who suffer especially traumatic injuries might be unable to talk to the police at the scene. Focus on getting medical care, and officers can contact you in the future if they need additional information to complete their report. Reports from the Yorktown Police Department are available online several business days after collisions, and victims may also visit the agency’s Records Department on weekdays from nine in the morning to noon to obtain copies of reports in person.
Take Pictures of Property Damage and Debris
Do not leave the crash location without taking pictures unless you are seriously injured, in which case paramedics might have to take you to the hospital immediately. If you are too hurt to take pictures yourself, you can ask for help from first responders or witnesses. When photographing the scene, focus on property damage and the exact point of impact. Look for any debris on the road, like broken glass, taillights, or other car parts, as well as tire marks. Our attorneys can review these pictures and give them to accident reconstruction experts, who are particularly useful in cases threatened by New York’s pure comparative fault rule. Experts work in reverse by examining physical evidence from a crash, including photos, to determine an accident’s sequence of events and ultimate cause. Experts may testify in court if cases go to trial, or our lawyers can leverage their findings over negligent drivers during settlement negotiations.
Identify and Talk to Eyewitnesses
Take note of anyone who stops to offer help and ask for their contact information. We typically prioritize eyewitness interviews at the start of investigations, as preserving their statements is crucial, especially if they must testify should your case go to trial. We can have eyewitnesses recount what they saw, including your visible injuries from the crash. When victims cannot talk to witnesses themselves because they are too injured, our car accident lawyers may refer to police accident reports to learn this information and contact witnesses promptly.
Your Checklist for After Leaving a Car Accident Scene in Yorktown Heights
Once you leave the crash site, there are additional steps you must take to protect your financial recovery, including going to the hospital, identifying your compensable damages, and ultimately filing your case before the statute of limitations runs out in Yorktown Heights.
Go to the Hospital
The nearest hospital should be the first place you go from the crash site. Waiting to get medically assessed could cause issues in your future compensation claim, especially when it comes time to prove you qualify to sue under I.S.C. Law § 5104. Stay in the hospital until doctors discharge you, and closely follow their advice, which may include seeing specific specialists to aid your physical recovery.
Identify Compensable Damages
When filing a compensation claim for a car accident, you must specifically cite the damages you want covered. For example, to get compensation for medical costs, you must present hospital bills confirming the cost of treatment. In addition to tracking all medical expenses, we can calculate your lost wages from the accident if you cannot return to work immediately or for the foreseeable future. We can help victims identify other compensable damages, like pain and suffering, to help ensure their maximum recoveries.
File on Time
You must confirm and observe the final date by which you can file your lawsuit, or else you could lose your opportunity to recover compensation. In most cases, car accident victims have three years to sue negligent drivers, and we can begin preparing claims as soon as possible to mitigate the consequences often associated with delaying filing, even if victims file before the statute of limitations ends.
Call Our Attorneys About Your Car Accident Case in Yorktown Heights
Call The Martello Law Firm, PLLC at (914) 685-6950 for a free case review from our car accident lawyers.
