Brooklyn Car Accident Lawyer

The New York City Police Department reports that roughly 6,300 motor vehicle crashes occur in New York City every month. About one-third of these incidents happen in Brooklyn, highlighting just how common they have become in the borough.

This startling statistic might lead you to believe that the average Brooklyn driver would know exactly what to do after a crash. However, this is not always the case. Some people are left stunned following collisions and are not sure what steps to take to help them recover physically, psychologically, and financially.

Thankfully, an auto accident lawyer in Brooklyn, NY, from the Wohlgemuth Law Firm PLLC, can help by offering the necessary legal guidance. Still, you should also understand how to jumpstart the healing and compensation recovery processes.

Here is what to do if you are ever involved in a car accident involving serious injuries.

Call 911

After an accident, pull out your phone and dial 911.  If you are too injured to do this yourself, ask a bystander or another driver to do so. Either way, a 911 operator will send police officers to the scene of your crash.

Experienced attorneys will tell you that a police report is one of the key pieces of evidence during any car collision case. If you do not make it your mission to secure one, you could inadvertently compromise the outcome of your personal injury claim later.

You might also want to ask a 911 operator to send an ambulance to the scene of the accident if you are badly injured and feel that you cannot make it to a hospital on your own. The paramedics will treat you on the scene and decide whether you need further care from doctors and nurses at a nearby medical facility.

Seek Medical Attention

Whether you receive care from paramedics at the scene of your car collision or head to one of the more than a dozen hospitals in Brooklyn, you must seek medical attention for your injuries following a crash. Even if you do not necessarily feel like you sustained any serious injuries, choosing to forgo an evaluation from paramedics and/or doctors and nurses is not wise.

Some accident injuries, like bone fractures, present immediate symptoms. Others, such as concussions and whiplash, might not show symptoms right away. If you do not seek medical attention and end up experiencing them in the near future, you may struggle to connect these injuries to your crash.

Do not delay seeking medical care for your injuries because you are worried about its costs. New York is a no-fault state, generally speaking, this means that the auto insurance company of the vehicle in which the injured person was in during a car crash will be responsible to pay for the medical bills. New York’s no-fault laws are complex and have strict requirements including filing timelines. A car accident lawyer in Brooklyn, NY, from the Wohlgemuth Law Firm PLLC, can provide you with the necessary information about your no-fault claim and will assist you with making sure it is filed appropriately so that you can get the medical care you need.

Document the Crash Scene

As soon as police arrive on the scene of your car crash, they will launch an investigation. They will then begin cleaning up the wreckage to ensure that other drivers are not in danger while navigating the area where your accident occurred.

If possible, strive to document the scene to showcase what happened during your crash. Use your phone to snap photographs and record videos of:

• The vehicles involved in your collision, including the license plate and the damage they sustained
• The skid marks and other signs of a crash left behind in the street
• The traffic lights, signs, etc., in the area of your accident 

Once the police clean up the scene, crucial evidence could disappear forever. To prevent this, take as many photos and videos as possible and share them with your attorney should you take legal action against another driver.

Contact an Auto Accident Attorney in Brooklyn

People sometimes contact their car insurance companies right after collisions to inform them of what has happened. While you should eventually place this call, the last thing you want to do is admit fault to an insurance adjuster when discussing your crash or say something else that could limit your legal options later.

Rather than reaching out to your auto insurance company, look for a car accident lawyer to provide a free phone consultation first. An attorney from the Wohlgemuth Law Firm PLLC will speak to you about the specifics of your case, determine the potential viability of a legal claim, and assist you in communicating with your insurance company and filing your claim.