You may understandably be startled after entering a major car crash. However, you must not leave in a panic for the sake of your safety and the well-being of the other involved parties, and overall, to remain legally compliant. That said, please read on to discover what actions you should take immediately after your involvement in a collision and how a seasoned Morris County, New Jersey auto accident lawyer at Macri Law Firm can help you do what is right for you, personally and legally.
Why should I not leave the scene after an auto accident?
It does not matter if you believe that you were not at fault for the auto accident event yourself. Or, that after a quick survey, you deduce that there are no visible property damages or injured individuals. Whatever it is, there is no excuse for fleeing the scene prematurely. With this, you may be considered to have committed a hit and run, which in the state of New Jersey is charged as a serious traffic violation, misdemeanor offense, or felony offense. The lesser degree of punishment for this may be auto insurance surcharges and points added to your driving record. But you may also face hefty fines, extended jail or prison time, a driver’s license suspension or revocation, etc.
What legal procedures must I follow after my auto accident?
Putting that into consideration, to avoid being accused of a hit-and-run offense, you should safely pull over and stop your vehicle immediately after your collision. Then, cautiously exit your vehicle and approach the other involved parties. You should willingly exchange contact information and auto insurance details. You should also ask them if they are injured or experiencing pain, and if they would like you to call emergency medical services on their behalf. Importantly, New Jersey law requires you to assist injured parties until emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics can arrive at the scene. Of course, you must also call local law enforcement to report the accident event, and comply with the officer who arrives at the scene.
What other actions should I take immediately after my auto accident?
Now that you have covered all your legal obligations, you may pivot your attention to your physical condition first, and then to collecting evidence for your possible future personal injury claim. Such actions should be taken if you strongly believe that you were not negligent in the matter. So, immediately after your accident and while still at the scene, you should follow the procedure below:
- Take photos and videos of your visible bodily injuries, vehicle and property damages, and external hazards that likely contributed to the crash.
- Speak with eyewitnesses to see if they caught any photo or video evidence of the crash, and ask if they are willing to give statements to the responding officer.
- Visit neighboring residential or commercial property owners to see if they have security camera systems that potentially captured the events of your crash.
- Accept medical attention from EMTs even if you do not feel hurt, and allow them to transport you to the emergency room via ambulance for further evaluation.
If this is what you are currently up against, do not try to put up a fight without the legal assistance of a competent Parsippany, New Jersey personal injury lawyer from Macri Law Firm. We urge you to retain our services as soon as possible.