Car accidents are common in Fort Lee, so it makes sense to be prepared in case a negligent driver crashes into you. After taking a few steps to get the care you need, our lawyers can file your claim.
You should start your case while still on the scene by reporting the collision to the police. You should also exchange information with the negligent driver without discussing the details of the accident, as well as gather eyewitness information so our team can get their statements later. Before getting medical care, preserve evidence on the scene by taking pictures with your phone. After getting medical treatment, our team can determine whether your insurance limits your right to sue for non-economic damages and present evidence to show that your injuries are serious to overcome this limitation.
For a free case review from our car accident lawyers, call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111.
What You Should Do Following a Car Crash in Fort Lee, NJ
Car accidents are common in Fort Lee and can range from relatively minor fender-benders to major multi-vehicle pileups. While car accidents can differ significantly, what you should do after being injured in one remains the same. You should report the crash and exchange information with the other driver and witnesses. You should also preserve evidence by taking pictures with your phone before getting medical attention. Afterward, our car accident attorneys can file your claim and show that your injuries are serious if insurance limits your recovery options. We will also identify the filing deadline and whether any exceptions allow more time to file if needed.
Get to Safety and Report the Accident
The first thing to do after a car accident is to make sure you are safe and not exposed to further danger from other drivers. If you can move your vehicle to the curb, it is a good idea to do so. If you cannot move your car, just make sure that you are not exposed to a second collision.
Once you get to safety, report your accident by calling 911. Reporting accidents involving death, injuries, or property damage over $500 is mandatory in New Jersey, according to N.J.S.A. § 39:4-130. Even if it was not required, you want the police to investigate the crash so that you can get a crash report to use in your claim. The police report will contain basic information like the driver’s information, when and where the accident occurred, and the weather at the time. It will also include the investigating officer’s observations, including the damage they witnessed and conclusions about who caused the crash.
When speaking to the police, stick to the facts that you know. Do not apologize for the crash or say anything that an insurance company or defense attorney can take as accepting blame for the accident. Our team can obtain the report from whichever law enforcement agency that investigated your collision.
Exchange Information
You can also exchange information with the other driver and eyewitnesses while you wait for the police.
Like talking to the police, do not apologize to the other driver or express regret since they will likely interpret it as taking some of the blame. Just get their name, address, and insurance details, but do not litigate how the accident happened there. Our team will do that after filing your claim.
Eyewitness information will typically be in the police report, but it is best to get these details for yourself in case it does not make it into the crash report for some reason. Again, let the witness do the talking while you take notes about what they saw and how to contact them later. Our team can interview them and arrange for them to testify on your behalf. However, if you say something to them that makes it seem as though you are partially accepting fault, that information can be brought out when the defendant’s attorneys question the witness.
Preserve Evidence
Much of the physical evidence from a car accident cannot reasonably be presented in court but is still crucial to proving what happened. Fortunately, photos of physical damage can preserve these details and be used as evidence. Use your smartphone to take photos of where the vehicles are positioned, the damage to each, and any debris you notice about the scene. If your injuries prevent you from taking pictures or your phone was smashed in the accident, ask a witness, the police, or a paramedic for help.
Get Medical Care
You should also get medical care after the accident. While you might not need to go straight to the emergency room after the crash, it is important to start documenting your injuries as soon as possible. You need evidence of the damages the other driver caused, and your medical records serve as a major part of that evidence. Medical records also link your losses with the driver’s negligence, showing that they caused your damages.
You will also need medical evidence to overcome the “serious injury” threshold if you do not have an unlimited right to sue in your insurance policy under § 39:6A-8(b). Those with a limitation on lawsuit policy can only recover compensation for their economic damages unless they suffered serious injuries, in which case they can file a lawsuit for all their damages, according to § 39:6A-8(a).
File Your Claim
It is common to take some time to nurse your injuries and consider whether filing a lawsuit is worth the effort. This is reasonable but it is best to get our team’s legal opinion as soon as you can. Car accident victims only have two years from the crash date to file a claim, whether insurance or a lawsuit, according to § 2A:14-2(a).
If the driver fled the state or the victim is a minor, we can argue for more time to file since these are exceptions to the statute of limitations.
Contact Our Fort Lee, NJ Car Accident Lawyers Today to Recover Compensation for Your Damages
Call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (201) 777-1111 for a free case evaluation from our car accident attorneys.