If you were injured in a car accident, then you probably face expensive medical bills. If you cannot return to work, then you and your loved ones may be heading toward insurmountable debt. Fortunately, a personal-injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation from the at-fault party, which may be necessary to maintain financial security.

There are several factors that will influence the final settlement or judgment. Each case is unique, and your lawyer can determine if you may have valid grounds for a claim, and can explain the potential outcomes to your case. If you were recently involved in an auto accident and would like to speak with a New York City personal-injury attorney, then contact Jaroslawicz & Jaros PLLC today for a free consultation. We are available at 212.227.2780. Until then, here are a few factors that can influence your final settlement or judgment: Filing an Accident Report In New York, certain accidents may not require you to file an accident report. Unless someone was injured or there was significant property damage, you are not bound by law to file a report with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. However, certain injuries do not show symptoms until several hours or days after a crash, so you should consider filing a report after every collision. An accident report will contain an official record of all the damage, as well as other pertinent details. This may help support your claim against the at-fault driver. Exchanging Insurance Information and Other Details Proper protocol after an auto accident includes the exchange of information between all drivers involved. This includes contact info, as well as insurance information. Even if you decide not to file a lawsuit, this information will be important. It is absolutely essential for making an insurance claim, as well as following up with the other driver. Other important information includes the makes and models of all cars involved, as well as the license plate numbers. You should also make an attempt to collect photographic evidence of the crash with your smartphone or camera. These images can make a significant difference for both your insurance claim and a possible lawsuit. Contacting the Police If anyone has been injured or killed as a result of the accident, then you are required by law to contact emergency services. If there have been no injuries and the damage is minimal, then you do not have to call the police. However, like the accident report, a police report can potentially support your claim if you file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. The police can also maintain control of the situation if another driver becomes hostile or confrontational. If you would like to speak with a personal-injury attorney in New York City about a recent car accident, contact Jaroslawicz & Jaros PLLC today at 212.227.2780 for a free consultation.