According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent national statistics, there were almost 5.7 million police-reported motor vehicle trafficCar Accident crashes in 2012.  Almost 31,000 of those related crashes resulted in fatalities and nearly 2 million injuries resulted in those accidents. There were over 284,000 crashes reported in the state of New Jersey alone.

A traffic accident can happen to anyone anywhere at anytime.  No matter the circumstances, it can be scary.  Here are some things to keep in mind if you’ve been in an auto accident:

    • No matter how minor the collision, never leave the scene of the accident
    • After checking to see if anyone is hurt; call 911 for medical treatment
    • Make sure you also call the police immediately and that the police report reflects your version of incident—if it doesn’t, you need to go the responding police station and insist that your statement be added to the official police report
    • Get the other driver’s information (name, phone number, insurance information, license and registration)
    • Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.  In cases of traffic accidents, any medical bills are usually covered through your car insurance.  Also keep track of any papers related to medical treatment obtained as a result of the accident
    • Talk to an attorney who has experience handling personal injuries resulting in traffic accidents.  And once you’ve retained counsel, redirect anyone asking for information about the crash to your attorney.

It is also important to note that New Jersey has “no fault” laws, which means that certain property damages, wage losses, and medical treatment are paid by your personal auto insurance plan regardless of who actually caused the accident.  Because of these laws, seeking compensation for injuries and any pain and suffering sustained because of the incident can become rather complicated.  Make sure that you have an experienced attorney to help you through this difficult time.  Call us at the Law Offices of Leon Matchin (732) 662-7658 to discuss your personal injury case today.