Car accidents remain one of the leading causes of death nationwide, with your chances of being involved in at least one auto accident within your lifetime being extremely high. Whether you are driving within Bergen County or if you are driving in Manhattan with its vast number of hurried and impatient drivers, there are a few important tips that you want to heed if and when you are involved in an auto accident and these include the following:

• Check if anyone was hurt (those few minutes can mean life or death to an injured accident victim).
• If someone was hurt, call an ambulance.
• If your vehicle is in the line of traffic, move it out of the way and into a position of safety if possible.
• Don't admit guilt! Whether or not you think it's your fault, never admit guilt at the scene because it can complicate the claims process later on.
• Call the police so you can have them write up an accident report.
• Document the scene. Since most people have cell phones with a photo taking capability, it's a wise idea to take pictures of the vehicle damage, where the vehicles landed, your injuries, any skid marks and any road or weather conditions that might have played a role in the accident.
• Exchange vital information with the other driver including: driver's license numbers, insurance policy number and contact information, license plate numbers, name and phone number (yours and theirs) etc.
• Gather the names and phone numbers of any eyewitnesses to the accident, you will need them later on.
• Seek medical treatment if you are hurt!
• As soon as possible, contact a personal injury attorney.

It's always a good idea to keep a notepad and pen, and disposable camera inside your glove box in case you don't have a digital camera or a cell phone handy. It's a mistake not to get an accident report and it's not a wise idea to agree not to exchange insurance information and instead accept a cash offer from the other party. You may have no idea as to the extent of your injuries or the property damage to your vehicle and hiring an attorney may ultimately enable you to collect far more compensation from the other party than if you tried to handle it on your own.

Often times a personal injury claim for a car, truck, motorcycle or pedestrian accident includes compensation for medical bills (current and anticipated), property damage (to your vehicle), lost income and also pain and suffering. To learn more about car accidents and filing a personal injury claim, contact our lead attorney Brandon J. Broderick today!