The immediate aftermath of a car accident can be a confusing and frightening time, even if you do not suffer any apparent serious injuries. From the moment you get into the accident, you will be saddled with pressure from all sides by people who do not necessarily have your best interests at heart. Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to make things easier for yourself going forward. Here are five things you should do if you get into a car accident:

  1. Contact the police and get a police report
    • One of the first things you should do after getting into an accident is to contact the police. They will come and interview you, collect evidence, and compile a report on the accident. Aside from being useful for insurance purposes, a police report can provide important evidence for any legal proceedings that might arise from the accident.
  2. Collect contact information from witnesses and others involved in the accident
    • Another important step is to get insurance and contact information from anyone involved in the accident, as well as anyone who may have witnessed it. This will help make it easier to begin the process of getting compensation for any harm you have suffered. It will also make it easier to contact those witnesses and get testimony from them as the legal process goes forward.
  3. Take photos of the accident
    • If you are able, taking photos of the accident when it happens can provide invaluable evidence for your case. It will help to prove the injuries you suffered, and make it harder for the other side to dispute your story. A cell phone camera can work just fine for such a purpose.
  4. Seek medical attention as soon as possible
    • If you are healthy enough to call the police, obtain contact information and take pictures of the accident, you may think you got out of the accident relatively fine. However, that may not be the case, as many injuries do not become apparent until days, or even weeks after the accident. The sooner you get checked out by a doctor, the more quickly you will catch any hidden injuries, and the easier it will be to prove your injuries were caused by the accident.
  5. Hire an attorney with experience in personal injury law
    • Finally, you should hire a lawyer who can help you pursue your case. You may have suffered extraordinary injuries as a result of your accident, but insurance companies like to pay as little as they can get away with. Getting the most from your lawsuit requires the experience and training that comes from an attorney knowledgeable in personal injury law.

The New York personal injury attorneys at Duffy & Duffy have decades of experience in handling issues related to car accidents. With our offices conveniently located on Long Island, New York, we are ready to assist you with your case and ensure it receives the personal attention it deserves. If you want to learn more or receive a free consultation, give us a call at (516) 394-4200, or visit our contact page.