Being involved in a car accident can be frustrating, but without documenting everything correctly, you may have a bad experience when trying to recover compensation. Documenting all damage associated with the NY car accident is important to supporting your car accident claim. The more proof you have, the easier it is to get a fair settlement.
Documenting damage can be done a number of ways. The way you report it, the evidence you collected in the aftermath, and requesting official documents for your records.
Since New York is a no-fault state, any injuries you sustain in an accident is covered by your own PIP policy (personal injury insurance). In the event that you sustain a serious injury, PIP insurance may not be enough, so you may need to file a third-party claim or lawsuit. Whether you want to file a personal injury claim after a car accident or not, collecting all relevant evidence to support your claim is important.
We will offer five ways you should support your claim in the following article. While this information is important, the most valuable step you can take is to speak to an NY car accident lawyer first.
With our experience, Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, can help you win your case.
1. Call the Police: Get a Police Report Filed
Make the call to the police immediately if the accident is serious. Getting a police report for the car accident will provide accurate details to support your claim. The police will also record witness statements, which would also be relevant to your case.
After an auto accident, you should always call the police since your insurance company will typically need a police report.
2. Exchange Information With The Other Party
Exchanging information with the other party in an accident is very important. This information should include their name, phone number, driver's license number, and insurance information.
It's wise to speak with a lawyer before engaging with an insurance company, although some insurers require you to notify them of an accident within a specified timeframe. Notification, however, is just that: notification of the accident, which should only include the facts of the accident. If you've retained a lawyer, they will handle all correspondence with the insurance company on your behalf.
3. Photo or Video
In today's world, you have a camera in your pocket. Utilize it. Take pictures of the accident from every aspect and include any relevant shots, such as the accident scene or road hazards that may have contributed to the accident.
You can also take a pic of the car's license plate for your personal files.
4. Gather Evidence For Minor Accidents
In the event of minor accidents, the damage must be documented. No matter how minor or unimportant the damage, it may still cost thousands of dollars to repair. You need to take pictures and share information, but you don't need to call the police (in some cases). Later, when taking your car to a mechanic, they might find further damage, which would change your claim. Therefore, you'll need to keep this documentation on hand.
5. Making a Claim for a Car Accident
Once you have documented all damages and have consulted with a car accident lawyer, the final step would be to file a claim to recover losses, both for your injuries and damage to your vehicle.
Some accident victims will call their insurance company immediately, while others wait until they get home. Speak with a lawyer prior to calling your insurance provider. You need to have documentation to notify the claims representative and finish the claims procedure.
Our NY Car Accident Lawyers Can Assist You
In most cases, the right documentation can make all the difference in the success of your claim. Witness testimony, police reports, electronic evidence, and medical records can be used to prove the other driver's fault in the accident.
Our NY car accident lawyers can assist you in putting together the correct documentation for the best chance of success in resolving your claim.
Contact us right now for a free consultation.