Auto Accident Lawyer New York, NY

Auto Accident Lawyer New York, NY

When you are the victim in an auto accident, you need the help of an auto accident lawyer New York residents trust from Oddo & Babat, P.C. Anyone who has ever been in a serious car accident can probably attest to just how stressful they can be. A person may be innocently driving on their way to work or running errands when they were struck by another driver who was behaving recklessly. You can often see drivers violating the laws of the road by speeding, running red lights, or rapidly swerving in and out of traffic. It is imperative that victims of car accidents obtain legal assistance after being in a car accident.

Our team can help you overcome losses and damages through taking legal action. If you or anyone you know has been in a terrible car accident, we encourage you to reach out to us right away for help.

What to Expect During a Consultation
If you have never met with a legal professional before, you may not be sure what to expect. Your first appointment is likely going to entail going over how the accident occurred and at what stage you are at in handling the incident. A New York, NY auto accident lawyer may ask for various types of documentation, including medical exams, car damage estimates, loss of wage from missing work, photographs, witness contacts, the other driver’s information, and the police report.

It is recommended that victims of car wrecks seek legal counsel from the very beginning, so their rights can be protected as soon as possible. Not all representatives and parties involved in the collision are going to be fair and compassionate.

How to Handle the Situation
The last thing anyone wants is to get involved in a vehicle collision. And while many people practice defensive driving to keep themselves out of harm’s way, sometimes that isn’t enough because another driver could be careless near you and cause a crash. Even the most careful driver may be in some kind of accident in their lifetime. After a car accident, there are steps you will want to take so that you can protect your best interests.

1. Stay at the scene and document what happened. The other driver must stay at the scene too until law enforcement arrives. If the driver hits you and runs off, stay where you are and do not chase after them. You can file a report with the officer and they can look for the perpetrator. Stay calm, keep a small notebook in your glove compartment so you can write down the details of what happened while it is still fresh in your mind. The human memory is flawed so to ensure you don’t forget important little details, jot them down.
2. Exchange important information with the other driver. Assuming the other driver did not flee the scene in a hit-and-run, check to see how all parties are doing and if medical attention is needed. You should always call 911 even if there were no injuries, so you can have an official report filed and use that as evidence in your claim. Details you will need from the other driver include name, address, form of contact, driver’s license number, license plate number, vehicle year and model, insurance carrier, and insurance contact number. 
3. Talk with witnesses if anyone saw the car crash happen. Witnesses can be a useful resource for your car accident claim. You do not have to ask for a statement at that moment, but do request their name and a contact number or email so they can be reached at a later time. A lawyer from Oddo & Babat, P.C. can speak with them in the days afterwards to first ensure that they are a credible witness. 
4. Take photographs and video footage. This is particularly important if an officer does not show up, but it is still a good idea to get your own evidence as well. Take pictures of the vehicle damage to both cars, tire marks on the street, broken glass, debri, property damage, visible injuries, street signs, and how the cars stopped after crashing into each other. If you are on a busy street or freeway, pull over to the side of the road so you are not risking another accident, and then take the pictures you need. 
5. Go to the doctor the same day if possible. For the sake of your health, go to the doctor for a check up. Your doctor can run some tests to see if you have any  injuries that require medical treatment. If you are worried about not having the money to get medical care, please call us right away so we can advise you on how to proceed. Additionally, by going to the doctor right away you are showing that any injuries were serious and it lessens the chances that an insurance agency will try to minimize your claim. 

Road Bumps that May Arise
The legalities associated with auto accidents can be anything but simple, and there may be several sneaky road bumps that come up. For example, as your car accident claim is being processed, you may receive phone calls from various people regarding what happened. You may be asked by insurance adjusters to submit a verbal or written statement about the accident.

It is essential that you check in with your auto accident lawyer in New York before signing anything or submitting a statement. An insurance adjuster probably already knows everything about the accident but may be calling as a way to get you to say something that can hurt your claim. During this time, we suggest saying as little as possible and refraining from posting anything on social media too.

What to Do About Insurance After an Auto Accident
After an automobile accident, you may be wondering what you should do in terms of speaking with the other driver’s insurance. We know it can be tempting to tell your side of the story. Especially when you are not the one who is responsible for the accident, you may want to offer full details of when and how it happened.

Or, if you do not feel injured right away you may want to brush it off and act like it was no big deal. While it is understandable that you would want to do this, remember that insurance agents are not there to make you feel better after an accident occurred. They are there to refute your claim or give you as small of a settlement as they can get away with. 

But the insurance agents are calling my house. Shouldn’t I speak with them?
You may think you are legally obligated to speak with the other driver’s insurance agents about your claim or your injuries but you are not. When someone else has caused you to become injured and their insurance agent is calling you, you are under no legal obligation to speak with them about the incident. Especially when you have a trusted attorney on your side who can go to battle for you with the insurance company, you should not have to worry about this. 

I’m not at fault, though. Doesn’t that matter?
Unfortunately, this may not make a difference. Even if you are not at fault for the accident you may accidentally say the wrong thing or the insurance agent may twist your words in a way that makes it seem like you were not injured as badly as you were or that the claim is invalid. 

Tips if You Must Talk with the Other Driver’s Insurance Agent
If you feel that there are no other options or the other driver has lied to their insurance agent about how the accident occurred, here are a few tips for talking with insurance: 

1. Remember that they are likely recording your conversation and anything you say can be used against your claim. 
2. Don’t discuss your injuries (or lack thereof) with the insurance agent. Injuries tend to get much worse after a car accident. 
3. Do not volunteer information they haven’t asked about. 
4. If you’re not comfortable providing more information, tell them you will have your attorney call them back. 

Legal Representation
The average person may not fully understand the ins and out of the legal system. Without help from an attorney, victims of car accidents may be unknowingly hindering their chances of receiving a fair settlement. While hiring an attorney is not required, it can help protect you from facing even further financial loss and frustration.

Contact us to schedule your first free appointment today. Please know that we are here to be of support, and you do not have to deal with the aftermath of a tragic accident alone. It can be difficult enough to balance life responsibilities, and now you must handle a huge setback on top of all that. Schedule your appointment with an NY auto accident lawyer in New York from Oddo & Babat now.