Car accidents can impact your life in many ways, from damaging your vehicle to leaving you or your family members with injuries or disabilities. After you’re involved in an accident, there are some things you need to do.
While the most important thing you can do is call for help if there are any injuries, if you’re in a position to move forward with the rest of these requirements, they are important. New York has specific laws that must be followed after an accident to protect the people involved.
Most people stop at the scene, but remember that this is a requirement by law, even if you were the victim. If you leave the scene, you can be accused of a hit-and-run even if you were the one who was hit by someone else. If you or another person is hurt, calling the police or 911 is necessary, since the first thing you should always do is check for injuries and obtain medical care.
Next, you’ll want to gather information at the scene. You’ll want to have information on the car’s owner, any passengers who may have been injured or who were present at the scene, and get information on any witnesses who are present. Remember what the traffic and weather conditions were like at the time of the accident, because this could be important to your case later.
You will need to file an accident report with the state, but the police will do this for you if they come to the scene in most cases. If you are hospitalized, you can request a copy of the report later.
Source: FindLaw, “Your New York Car Accident: The Basics,” accessed May 13, 2016