Car Wreck Attorney in Long Island

What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident on Long Island?

Being involved in a car accident on Long Island will likely be a jarring experience. In the moments after a collision, you’ll likely feel disoriented, upset, and overwhelmed. It’s a great idea to keep a car accident checklist with your registration and insurance documents, so you can go through a step-by-step predefined plan at the accident scene.

First and foremost, seek immediate medical attention for any injuries.

Call 911 and let the operator know if you or anyone else was noticeably injured. The health and safety of everyone involved in a collision is the number one priority. Once medical and safety issues have been addressed, call the police. (They’ll likely arrive if EMS is contacted.) You’ll be asked to provide a statement to law enforcement, and if you believe any of the other drivers involved in the car accident was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, say so.

Gather information from those involved in the car accident.

Your insurance company will likely request the names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information of everyone at the scene, including other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and witnesses. In addition to their contact information, make a note of any visible injuries sustained by those involved, and if they report they are fine or decline medical attention, make a note of that too.

Create a written record concerning the details of the car accident.

Record the weather conditions, if anything seemed unusual or out-of-sorts at the accident scene (a missing stop sign, an out-of-service traffic signal, etc.) Make sure to take note of the make, model, and license plate numbers of all of the vehicles involved. If possible, take photos at the scene of the car accident. In addition to the vehicles and the surrounding area, snap photos of any skid marks, traffic signals or signs, and anything else you think could be pertinent.

If anyone accepts blame for the accident, make sure you write this down.

Admission of guilt at the scene can be extremely important later when you’re building your case.

The Hazards of Driving With Cell Phones

Our smart phones have become an extension of our hands. Checking your phone while you are driving is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Any time your attention is taken away from driving you are putting yourself and your passengers are risk, as well as the people and drivers who are around you.

The best thing to do while you are driving is to shut the phone off and put it someplace out of reach, like the glove compartment or back seat.

Sometimes this isn’t practical since most people use GPS applications on their phones. If this is the case, purchase a phone mount so you see the phone as you would with other GPS units. It is best if you turn off all notifications so you are not tempted to reach over and check new emails and texts as they come in. Additionally, there are functional alternatives that make phones safer while driving, such as driving mode and voice commands. These functionalities let you keep your hands on the wheel, while utilizing your phone in a safer manner.