- Put on your emergency flashers on so that other drivers will see you and go around you. -Check to determine if you or any occupant of your car has any injuries.  If you can safely do so,  check the occupants of the other vehicles for injuries.  If anyone is injured, call 911. -In New York, it is a crime to leave the scene of a property damage accident.  Do not leave the scene until a police officer tells you that you may.  Call the police if they are not on the scene. -You should immediately obtain as much information as possible about the accident scene and the other parties to the accident.  This may include taking pictures of the accident scene and vehicles involved in the accident and any highway signs and markings/skid marks on the pavement.  Cell phones are great for this purpose. -Report the accident immediately to your insurance company. -If you have been injured, you must immediately file a claim for benefits with the insurer for the vehicle in which you were a passenger.  Your failure to do this within thirty days will cause you to be denied benefits for your medical bills and lost wages. -You should also obtain from the other folks involved in the acident their name, address and name of their insurance company, as well as the name, address and phone numbers of any witnesses.  This should include the names of any police persons or ambulance workers who arrive on the scene. -Most importantly, DO NOT make any statements to anyone about how the accident occurred, unless you are very comfortable that the accident was the other person's fault.  In that case, speak only with police authorities and not the other parties to the accident, nor witnesses nor health care providers.  You do however have an obligation to give the police your name, address and insurance information. -You must also report the accident to your insurance company promptly, which usually means within thirty days.  The better practice is to inform them immediately, in writing, and keep a copy of that writing as proof that you did so (your failure to promptly notify your insurance company could cost you the coverage you might otherwise be entitled to under your policy.) -Chances are excellent that you will be contacted by the insurance adjuster for the other persosn involved in the accident.  These adjusters are cagey, trained professionals who want to speak with you solely for the purpose of getting you to admit that you were somehow at fault, thereby getting their insured (and their money) off the hook.  They might even show up while you are still at the accident scene.  DO NOT SPEAK TO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AT ALL, WITHOUT EXCEPTION!  Do not sign any papers they ask you to sign, either.  In short, have nothing to do with them. -In the event that you are seriously injured and cannot gather information, etc., it is in your best interest to contact a lawyer immediately.  A highly skilled and experienced lawyer will help you preserve the evidence necessary to prosecute your personal injury case (if you have one), and will protect your rights. -Hopefully, your injuries will be minor and you will recover completely and get on with your life.  If not, and if you think someone else may be responsible for the accident and your injuries, give us a call.  We would be honored to fight for you.

 


Q: What should I do if I am in an automobile/motorcycle accident?

A:

- Put on your emergency flashers on so that other drivers will see you and go around you.

-Check to determine if you or any occupant of your car has any injuries.  If you can safely do so,  check the occupants of the other vehicles for injuries.  If anyone is injured, call 911.

-In New York, it is a crime to leave the scene of a property damage accident.  Do not leave the scene until a police officer tells you that you may.  Call the police if they are not on the scene.

-You should immediately obtain as much information as possible about the accident scene and the other parties to the accident.  This may include taking pictures of the accident scene and vehicles involved in the accident and any highway signs and markings/skid marks on the pavement.  Cell phones are great for this purpose.

-Report the accident immediately to your insurance company.

-If you have been injured, you must immediately file a claim for benefits with the insurer for the vehicle in which you were a passenger.  Your failure to do this within thirty days will cause you to be denied benefits for your medical bills and lost wages.

-You should also obtain from the other folks involved in the acident their name, address and name of their insurance company, as well as the name, address and phone numbers of any witnesses.  This should include the names of any police persons or ambulance workers who arrive on the scene.

-Most importantly, DO NOT make any statements to anyone about how the accident occurred, unless you are very comfortable that the accident was the other person's fault.  In that case, speak only with police authorities and not the other parties to the accident, nor witnesses nor health care providers.  You do however have an obligation to give the police your name, address and insurance information.

-You must also report the accident to your insurance company promptly, which usually means within thirty days.  The better practice is to inform them immediately, in writing, and keep a copy of that writing as proof that you did so (your failure to promptly notify your insurance company could cost you the coverage you might otherwise be entitled to under your policy.)

-Chances are excellent that you will be contacted by the insurance adjuster for the other persosn involved in the accident.  These adjusters are cagey, trained professionals who want to speak with you solely for the purpose of getting you to admit that you were somehow at fault, thereby getting their insured (and their money) off the hook.  They might even show up while you are still at the accident scene.  DO NOT SPEAK TO THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AT ALL, WITHOUT EXCEPTION!  Do not sign any papers they ask you to sign, either.  In short, have nothing to do with them.

-In the event that you are seriously injured and cannot gather information, etc., it is in your best interest to contact a lawyer immediately.  A highly skilled and experienced lawyer will help you preserve the evidence necessary to prosecute your personal injury case (if you have one), and will protect your rights.

-Hopefully, your injuries will be minor and you will recover completely and get on with your life.  If not, and if you think someone else may be responsible for the accident and your injuries, give us a call.  We would be honored to fight for you.


Bookmark and Share

Free Book

An Insider's Guide to Avoiding Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Injury Case

Read More

The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Your Family From Irresponsible Drivers in New York

Read More

Talk To Me

Please fill out the form and we will be in touch with you shortly.

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Tell us more:


Law Offices of Scott D. Cannon
28 Main Street
Geneseo, New York 14454
Phone: (585) 243-9330
Toll Free: (800) 343-6918

Get Directions

©2010 Cannon Law Office, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission
Attorney website design by Foster Web Marketing, the best attorney website design solution on the Web offering search engine optimization for attorneys, lawyer website design, video for attorneys, and more.
Get SEO Tips from The Attorney Internet Marketing Blog

Served By: A