The following article was written by Andrew F. Garruto, Attorney at Law and can be found on New-Jersey-Lawyers.com
5. EXCHANGE INFORMATION WITH THE OTHER DRIVER:
Obtain the names and addresses of all other drivers involved, along with the names and addresses of other passengers. Write down the vehicle information from the registration cards of all cars involved in the accident, as well as the insurance information [name, address and policy numbers]. If you notice that their insurance or registration has expired, inform the police
6. DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE POLICE REPORT WILL CONTAIN ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION:
This is particularly true of names and addresses and telephone numbers of eyewitnesses, so make sure you get this information yourself. This is extremely important when there are different stories as to how the accident happened, for example, when both drivers at an intersection accident claim to have had a green light, when it’s only possible for one of them to have had a green light.
If you don’t obtain witness information at the scene, it is probably lost forever.
7. POINT OUT ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TO THE POLICE:
By physical evidence, I mean any debris from the cars in the roadway, any skid marks from the vehicles involved, damage to each of the vehicles, as well as any physical signs of injury (bruise, laceration, etc.).
8. WRITE DOWN THE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT:
It is a good idea to write down what happened soon after the accident. The sooner you make notes of the details of the accident, the more information will be preserved for later, before your memory may fade and some of the specifics are lost. Your note should include date and time, road conditions, weather conditions and speed of all other vehicles involved. It is also a good idea to draw a diagram of the accident showing the position and direction of the vehicles just prior to and after the accident.
9. REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY:
Your insurance company is responsible for the payment of your medical bills, and must be promptly notified of the crash and of your injuries. Frequently the insurance company will ask you for a tape-recorded statement, and I suggest that you do not do so without an attorney. I give this advice because your insurance company often is your adversary when you present claims, and also because I may have serious problems with the way the questioner interrogates you – they may be suggesting answers that may not be true, may suggest facts in their questions, or other tricky or confusing questions.
10. IF YOU ARE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT:
If you are in pain, go to the Emergency Room or see a doctor as soon as possible. Potentially serious and costly injuries may not be evident at first; let these experts evaluate you and determine if your injuries require treatment.
11. TAKE PICTURES:
Take pictures of the accident scene, skid marks, and damage caused to your vehicle. If you were bruised or have other obvious signs of injury, you should also have someone take pictures of any bruises on your body – black and blue marks, bruises from seatbelts, anything that proves that there were forces to your body from the crash. This evidence proves that your body experienced a forceful blow, and the photos will help contradict the defendant’s insurance company’s doctor who will certainly have a great resume, and who will say that you are not injured at all, or not as seriously as your own doctor testifies.
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