When it comes to car accidents, New York is a no-fault state. Although this may sound like no one can be found liable for injuries that happen during an accident, that is not the case. While the no-fault law may bring some complications, it is something that can be conquered if an injured party takes the appropriate steps.
Documentation is key. If you get into a car accident, make sure you document what happened. This means taking photos of the accident scene, collecting contact information from any witnesses, documenting any injuries and their severities, and writing down your version of how the accident happened. Of course, if someone is seriously injured in an accident, the first thing to do is to seek out medical help. That is always the number one priority after any accident.
Unfortunately, not all injuries are apparent right away. For many individuals, the injuries caused by the accident may start to appear a few days later. The severity of these injuries may be bad enough to warrant ongoing medical treatment.
If an accident is very serious, police will typically do a thorough investigation of what happened at the scene. But even if an accident does not seem very serious, it’s important to document as many details as possible in order to seek compensation for any injuries that occur.
In our next post we will discuss how the no-fault law plays into actually seeking compensation from your insurance company and from the insurance company of the other individual involved in the accident.
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