1 Before you have an accident, keep an emergency kit in your glove compartment. Drivers should carry a cell phone, as well as a pen and paper for taking notes, a disposable camera to take photos of the vehicles at the scene, with a card and information about allergies or medical conditions that may require special attention if there are serious injuries. A set of cones, emergency warning triangles flares or should be kept in the trunk.
2 If you have an accident: Stop. Do not drive away from the scene! You can be charged with “hit and run” even if the accident n’était your fault if it involves a pedestrian, a moving car, or even a parked car or someone’s property.
3 Move vehicles to safety. Make every effort to prevent further accidents. You may be liable for damages to approaching vehicles unless they are properly warned. Do not move your car too far. Make sure to turn on hazard lights and set out cones, flares or warning triangles, si possible. Si votre voiture ne peut pas être driven, have the emergency call responders a tow truck. Get the name, address and telephone number of the towing company and, if you can, find out where it is taking your car.
4 Move people to safety. Check for injuries. Everyone can walk qui devrait move to safety.
5 Call for help. As soon as you can get to a telephone, call 911 Explain the situation and give the exact location of the accident, so that can help arrive rapidement. Be sure to mention whether you need an ambulance or a fire engine. Don’t hang up until the operator tells you it is okay to.
6 Coopèrent avec les autorités. À New York State if you are involved in a vehicle accident causing injury to person or property, you are required to stop and give your name, address, and show your driver’s license and insurance identification card to the injured personne qui est ou dont la propriété est damaged, or to a police officer. If such information n’est pas available at the scene of the accident, it must be given to the nearest police station or judicial officer as soon as possible. Be sure to cooperate with the police officer investigating the case. But, stick to the facts. For instance, if you were driving 30 miles an hour, say so. Do not say, “I wasn’ta speeding.”
7 Tell the police the truth. Follow police instructions carefully. Note the officer’s name and number precinct, command, or barracks. Ask how you can get a copy of the report police accident.
8 Mais pas admit fault. Do not any information about volunteer was to blame qui for the accident. You may think you are in the wrong and then learn that the other driver is as much or more to blame than you are. You should first to talk to your insurance, your lawyer, or both. Anything you say to the police or the other driver can be used against you later. Accord Do not to pay for any damages or sign a paper except traffic ticket until you check with your insurance company or lawyer.
9 Document what happened. Make a note of the details of the accident, y compris la date et l’heure, road conditions, weather conditions and speed of all other cars involved. It is also a good idea to draw a diagram showing of the accident and the position of the cars en direction de justprior to and after the accident: make a written description of each car, including year, make, model and color and the exact location of the Collision and how it happened.
10 Take photographs. Use your camera to document the damage to all the vehicles. (Use a camera’s cell phone if you have nothing else.) Keep in mind that you want your photos to show the context of the overall accident. Take your own photographs even if the police or take photographs that you believe your mechanic or insurance company will take them.
Photographe: (a) any broken parts, inside or outside the vehicle such as dashboard, windshield, seat, broken glass lenses or, bumper that fell off, etc, (b) vehicle license plates, (c) skid marks (d ) Street signs, and (e) injuries to persons involved in the accident. Take the photos from different angles and positions. Take photographs more than you think you’ll need. ALWAYS HAVE FOR SOMEONE Watch TRAFFIC.
11 Exchange information. Exchange the following information after the accident: name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver license number and license plate number for the driver and the owner of each vehicle. If the driver’s name is different from the name of the insured, take down the name and address for each individual. Si possible, obtain the names of the companies and the insurance policy covering the other numbers in the automobile accident. À New York State, it’s the law to carry insurance policy information à la carte dans chaque véhicule. These cards can be your source for such information.
12 Get witness information. If there are witnesses, try to get their names, addresses and telephone numbers; they may be able to help you if the other drivers dispute your version of what happened. Request that they talk to the police before leaving. If they refuse to identify themselves, jot down the license plate numbers of their automobiles. Do not discuss the accident with the witnesses. Do not give their names to anyone but the police, or your attorney your insurance company.
13 Report to your insurance company. Remember to call your insurance company or insurance broker immediately after the accident. N’oubliez to send written notice to your insurance company as soon as possible. The notice should include the time, place and circumstances of the accident. If you fail to notify your insurance company of the accident in writing within a reasonable time, this could be grounds for the company’s denying any obligation to protect your interests in the event is a claim made against you. Also, make sure your report contains the names of all persons and injured drivers and the names of all available témoins.
14 Report to Albany. The law requires that the operator of a vehicle involved in an accident à New York State in which a person is killed or injured in which one or damage to the property of any person, in a written report with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles within 10 days . If the operator is unable to make such a report, un autre participant must make it. Remember to keep copies for your records. This report form, known as an MV-104, may be obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles or its website (over the Internet). Often, your insurance company, insurance broker or attorney can send you the form
15 Appels à attorney. Consult à attorney qui est expérimenté en cas d’accident if you or a loved one is hurt. Ask lots of questions.
