Jersey Shore Personal Injury and Employment Specialists

Why should you contact the authorities after a car accident?

On Behalf of | May 27, 2019 | Car Accidents |

If you are involved in a car accident, your injuries and the damage to your vehicle can range in seriousness depending on the point of impact, how fast you and the other driver were traveling and the area the collision occurred in. Assessing your situation and making calm and responsible decisions can sometimes be challenging when you are in shock or trying to take in the seriousness of your situation. Understanding when to contact the authorities in New Jersey is vital to helping you make an informed decision if you are ever involved in a collision.

The collision you are involved in could be nothing more than a fender-bender with neither you or the other driver seeing the value or necessity in calling the authorities. According to safetyinsurance.com, if the damage on your vehicle or the other person’s vehicle is in excess of $1,000, authorities should be contacted. Contrary to what people may think, it does not take a hard impact for $1,000 worth of damage to be caused. Especially if either vehicle involved in the crash are newer models that still have a significant market value.

If you have experienced an injury because of the collision, authorities should also be contacted immediately. Properly notifying the authorities of your accident is invaluable in making sure that you have a worthwhile shot at getting the compensation you deserve if the accident was not your fault. Especially if the other driver is trying to avoid fault. Maintaining those documents for your own reference is also important should they be required in order to reach a settlement at a future date.

The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.