In the days after serious car accidents here in Queens, victims typically start to have questions about their rights and how to protect them. Here's what you need to know. Protecting Your Rights After Car Accidents in Queens Stick to Your Medical Plan Follow every recommendation from your doctors and specialists, even if you start to think you're feeling better and would rather stop. Attend physical therapy, complete all prescribed tests, and report new or changing symptoms right away. This creates a medical record that clearly links your injuries to the crash, and it also protects you from unfair accusations (insurers like to challenge claims when the medical treatment stops and restarts). Start Keeping a Journal A simple daily journal is more effective evidence of what you've suffered than trying to talk about it all weeks or months later. Write down every day how much pain you felt, whether you had difficulty sleeping, any limitations you had with respect to work or chores, and the emotional effects of it all. This provides evidence that medical records and bills can't quantify. Get Organized Find and organize every piece of paper related to the crash, and act as quickly as you can. Create one folder for medical bills, insurance statements, prescription receipts, and visit summaries. Create another for your pay stubs or employer letters that show time you've missed from work. In a different file, include receipts for transportation to appointments, home modifications, or extra help around the house. Finally, keep a file with all communication you have with the insurance company and your lawyer. Watch What You Say to Insurers Notify your own insurer if you have not already done so, but limit your statements to just the basic facts. Always decline to give any recorded statements until you've talked to your lawyer, and never accept an early settlement offer without legal advice. Once you sign a release, you usually cannot reopen the claim even if it turns out that your damages are greater than you expected. Keep Evidence If your vehicle has not yet been repaired or sold, keep it intact so experts can examine it later. Request that any event data recorder information stay available. Get the information of any witnesses to your lawyer so your lawyer can confirm their willingness to speak, and give your lawyer all the information you have or remember about businesses or property owners near where the accident took place. Your lawyer can send a letter asking them to hold any surveillance video that may still exist. Don't Discuss Your Case Stay off social media when it comes to the crash or your recovery, and remember that any photos or comments that imply you're active can be taken out of context and used to argue that injuries aren't very serious. Do not discuss the details of the case with anyone except your doctors and legal counsel. Talk to a Lawyer Contact Grauman Law P.C. in Kew Gardens or Forest Hills as soon as possible to speak with a team that has over 50 years of experience representing the people of Queens and all of NYC.
