Car accidents happen in New Jersey every day. When you are involved in a car accident, it can be both overwhelming and confusing. You need to try to stay calm and make a mental note of any and all details surrounding the accident. Following are some basic guidelines to follow if you are involved in a car accident.
- If you can, move to a safe area. If this is not possible, turn on your hazards to warn other drivers.
- Call for medical help if someone is injured.
- Call the police who will document the accident.
- Write down as much information as possible including driver and passenger names, license plate numbers and insurance information. If there were any witnesses, get their names and addresses also.
- Put your insurance company on notice of the accident.
- Document the scene – snap some photos of the accident scene.
The police will take statements from the drivers involved in the collision and from any witnesses who saw the accident occur. Police officers are experienced investigators and will quickly and accurately ascertain the pertinent facts surrounding an accident. As mentioned above, get in touch with your insurance company. In New Jersey, when you are in an automobile accident, your medical bills are usually payable through your automobile insurance and not your health insurance policy. Each auto insurance company in New Jersey must offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, although you may have decided to use your health insurance instead. When you place your auto insurance carrier on notice of an accident, if you selected PIP coverage, they will assign your claim to a PIP adjuster who will provide you with information about your medical expense coverage and oversee your care.
If you sustained injuries following an automobile accident, it is always a good idea to consult an attorney. Nobody anticipates being in an automobile accident but if you are unfortunate enough to have one, you will soon realize it can be a life changing event. An experienced attorney can help you make the correct decisions. Feel free to call me with any questions you may have.
As a partner with D'Arcy Johnson Day, Andrew D'Arcy has been involved in some of the nation’s most high-profile cases and investigations. His practice includes serious automobile accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death and product defect cases. Andrew has been personally responsible for numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of his clients. He has been recognized by his peers as an "AV" rated attorney, the highest possible rating given by Martindale-Hubbell publication. Andrew has been named a "Super Lawyer" by New Jersey Monthly magazine each year consistently since 2013.
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