What steps do I take after a Manhattan car accident?

The hustle and bustle of the city is a big draw for New Yorkers. After all, this is the city that never sleeps. However, this proclamation means the city streets never sleep either. That, coupled with the amount of people and traffic jams, spells disaster for some New Yorkers. There are some tips that are advisable to follow after a Manhattan car accident.

Immediately following a car accident, the first and foremost thing to do is to assess yourself and any passengers for injuries that occurred in the crash. It is important that the driver, any passengers and witnesses remain at the scene of the accident until it has been fully investigated.

If you or a passenger has sustained a serious injury, it is best to make this known at the scene of the accident in order to receive the best care and to have the injury documented by authorities. Call the police in order to help you document the incident — this will come in handy later if you need evidence of another driver’s wrongdoing.

If both drivers are in a condition to discuss their driving information after an accident, you should be sure not to unintentionally admit guilt. Keep the conversation short and to the point while compiling the insurance information and while getting photos of both vehicles. These photos should include the damage and positioning of the cars after a crash.

If witnesses are on the scene, ask them to make a statement to police and get their contact information to help build your case of proving negligence of the other driver.

These small tips will almost certainly come in handy to anyone involved in a crash. Keep in mind that insurance companies are not always on your side after an accident. They often have other motivations other than proving the guilt of the other driver. For this reason, keep it short and refrain from discussing the accident with anyone who isn’t on a need-to-know basis.

Source: Findlaw, “After a Car Accident: First Steps,” Accessed Aug. 17, 2015