After a car accident in NYC, it’s important to get the negligent driver’s insurance information. However, you may run into an issue when the responsible party refuses to hand that over. Because of that, NYC car accident victims need to know what to do if someone refuses to give their insurance information after a collision.
In cases where a negligent driver refuses to provide their insurance information, victims can do a few things. The first is to call the police. Law enforcement officials can demand the responsible party’s insurance information and include it in a police report. The second thing victims can do is take pictures and record any available details about the collision. Finally, victims can reach out to a Sunset Park, Brooklyn car accident attorney to help identify the negligent driver and obtain their insurance information.
Our lawyers can file a lawsuit against the responsible party and get the damages you deserve. For a free case evaluation, call the NYC car accident attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm today at (718) 841-0083.
What Should You Do When Someone Refuses to Give Their Insurance Information After a Car Accident in NYC?
After a car accident in NYC, all parties involved should exchange insurance information. Although New York is a no-fault state for injuries, it’s important to get responsible driver’s liability insurance if you’ve been injured. If the negligent driver refuses to give you their insurance information, that may mean you won’t be able to identify the driver if you intend to sue for compensatory damages. Should that happen, car accident victims in NYC can call the police, document the scene, and consult an attorney.
Call the Police
After a car accident in NYC, calling law enforcement officials is crucial. Police officers can not only ensure your safety after a collision, but they can collect the necessary information from all involved parties. If a negligent driver refuses to hand over their insurance information to you, it’s even more important to alert law enforcement. Police officers can obtain the responsible driver’s insurance information and document it within an accident report. Afterward, this information can be made available to your Queens car accident attorney if you intend to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver.
Document the Scene
If a driver is uninsured or doesn’t want their identity known after a car accident, they may choose to flee the scene. Not only is this illegal in NYC, but it can prevent you from getting the driver’s insurance information and other important pieces of information. If a negligent driver refuses to give you their insurance information and begins to leave the scene before police officers arrive, it’s important to take photos.
If your injuries permit you, snap pictures with your camera of the responsible driver’s license plate. Try to record other details, like the accident location, time, and date. If you spoke with the responsible driver at all, write down what you can remember. Taking as many photos as you can, and recording any other potential pieces of information, can help your Bronx car accident attorney locate the negligent driver and obtain their insurance information in the future.
Consult an Attorney
Sometimes, car accident victims in NYC are unaware of their injuries immediately after a collision. Because of this, they may forego calling the police, which may make it more difficult to obtain a negligent driver’s insurance information. If this has happened to you, it’s important to consult with a Bronx pedestrian accident lawyer. A dedicated lawyer can attempt to identify the negligent driver by analyzing photos you may have taken or available traffic camera footage. While collecting the responsible party’s insurance information at the scene is ideal, the driver may refuse. If you’re unable to get their insurance information immediately after a collision, your Long Island car accident attorney can help you obtain it at a later date.
Why Is It Important to Get the Responsible Party’s Insurance Information After a Car Accident in NYC?
You may be wondering why it’s so important to get the responsible party’s insurance information after a car accident in NYC when New York is a no-fault state for injuries. While that’s true, drivers are still required to carry liability insurance and can be at-fault in certain situations. A negligent driver’s insurance information can identify the responsible party if a victim decides to file a lawsuit, and the responsible party’s insurance can act as the no-fault carrier depending on who the victim is.
If you intend to sue a negligent driver for compensatory damages after an NYC car accident, you need to be able to identify them. Obtaining their insurance information and any other identifying details at the accident scene is crucial for just that reason. While an experienced Staten Island car accident attorney can attempt to identify a negligent driver after the fact, it’s helpful to have that information easily on hand during a consultation. During a lawsuit, the negligent driver’s insurance company will likely handle the case if they have liability insurance, which is another reason why obtaining such information at the accident site is crucial.
While that may seem simple enough, things get more complicated when pedestrians or bicyclists are involved in an NYC accident. If a negligent driver injured you as a pedestrian or bicyclist in NYC, obtaining the responsible party’s insurance information becomes even more crucial. In NYC, the no-fault carrier is the negligent driver’s auto insurance in those scenarios. That means that your hospital bills and lost wages can be paid by the negligent driver’s insurance carrier, despite NYC being a no-fault state.
Although you may have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, it’s still important to get the negligent driver’s insurance information. Your insurer will likely want to compare your coverage and the responsible driver’s before approving a claim.
Call Our NYC Car Accident Attorneys Today
If someone refused to give you their car insurance information after an accident in NYC, our lawyers can help. Call the Brooklyn car accident attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm today for a free case evaluation at (718) 841-0083.