The Law Firm Of Guttmann & Kellner, P.C.
25 West Main Street
Smithtown, New York 11787
Phone: 631-360-2175
Fax: (631) 360-3393
24 Hour Number: (718) 830-7121
E-Mail us at ExperiencedLaw.com
"When Experience Counts"

Injured in a car accident? Know your rights.

Q: What if I am injured in a car accident? What should I do?
A: The following is a general outline of steps you should take, which we at the Law Firm Of Guttmann & Kellner, P.C. higlhly recommend based upon our experience with thousands of these types of cases:

Things You Should Do Immediately After a Car Accident:

1) Stay calm and immediately call an ambulance for anyone injured. Call the police and make sure you are safely out of the way of any oncoming traffic.

2) Exchange information with the other driver: a) Name b) Address c) Telephone Number d) Drivers License Number e) License Plate f) Name of Insurance Company g) Insurance Policy Number

2) Obtain the names. addresses. and phone number of all passengers in the other vehicle

3) Obtain the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses

4) Obtain the name, address, and phone number of the owner of the other vehicle - remember: in New York State an owner of a vehicle is just as responsible as the driver of that same vehicle as long as the driver had the permission from the owner to drive the vehicle - don't assume the driver is also the owner of the vehicle.

5) Damage to vehicles: Take note of the vehicle year and model, license plate, and any damage visible.

6) As soon as practicable, record the date, time and exact location of the accident and make a diagram of how it occured.

7) Report the accident as soon as possible to your agent or broker - failure to do so may result in jeopordizing your insurance coverage.

8) Report any accident involving injury or death to the police. Obtain a copy of the police report as soon as possible. Note, in Suffolk County, unlike most jurisdictions, the responding police officer will usually write a field report, followed by a regular accident report, and a document called a "supplemental 1010 report" concerning driver, passenger, or witness statements. Always try to obtain all supplemental 1010 reports along with the regular accident reports.

9) Save all photographs of the damage to your vehicle, scene, or injuries. Safeguard the negatives.

10) Most importantly, do not discuss the details of the accident with anyone or attempt to blame the other parties. Too often, you can discover that what is said at an accident scene can later be used against you. Also, after the accident be very careful who you are talking to. Very often adverse insurance company investigators will try to obtain a statement over the phone by recording the conversation without your knowledge. Although this may not seem ethical, it is quite legal. In New York State only one participant in a phone conversation needs to consent in order to legally record a phone conversation - not two. We always advise our clients to refer anyone seeking information about an accident directly to our law firm so that we can adequately protect your rights.


There are so many aspects of a personal injury claim and lawsuit to consider should you or a close family member or friend become injured in a car accident. The main consideration in choosing the proper law firm to represent your interests is the amount of litigation experience your lawyer has. Insurance companies have little respect for attorneys who are not prepared to go to court and litigate a case before a jury to verdict.

Conversely, insurance companies are much more inclined to settle a case for its fair value when they know they are dealing with attorneys who are ready, willing, and able to pick a jury, prepare, and litigate a case to its conclusion.

At Guttmann & Kellner, P.C. we will be by your side every step of the way to protect your rights backed up by years of proven litigation experience and results. As with all our personal injury cases, Guttmann & Kellner, P.C. never charges a fee unless we are sucessful in obtaining a settlement or judgement in your favor.

Call us for a free consultation or e-mail us with the specifics of your case and we will respond within 24 hours guaranteed.

Phone: 631-360-2175
Fax: (631) 360-3393
24 Hour Number: (718) 830-7121
E-Mail us at ExperiencedLaw.com "When experience counts"

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