Minor Vehicle Accident Attorney in New York - We Will Give You Justice
Many motor vehicle accidents are minor, with no injury to drivers or passengers. Do drivers have to report these incidents? It depends on state law. And you need to know the answers to the most common automobile accident questions.
New York Law Requires Drivers to Report Most Vehicle Accidents
New York City requires most accidents to be reported. You must report any vehicle accident to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that resulted in:
- Property damage of $1,001 or more.
- Any injury resulting from the accident.
- Any death resulting from the accident.
Report these accidents using DMV Form MV-104 within 10 days. In addition, police must be notified if there is an injury or death.
Regardless of the amount of damage you think has been caused, it is a crime in New York to leave the scene of an accident. Both parties must stop and exchange information including:
- Name, address, and contact
- Driver license number
- License plate number
- Insurance information
Exchanging information is not the same thing as reporting an accident to DMV.
If you hit a parked car or otherwise damage someone’s property with your vehicle and hit a tree, fence, or structure, try to locate the owner. If you can’t locate the owner, call the police. If property damage exceeds $1,001, it must be reported to DMV.
If you can, take pictures of the accident, particularly if you aren’t sure about the extent of damage. If someone is injured, call 911 even if he or she says not to—you do not want to be put in a situation where someone can later claim you failed to call for help or refund medical treatment.
Even if you think you are not injured, you should contact a New York lawyer immediately for help with DMV forms, no-fault applications, and evaluation of your claim.
New York Minor Car Accident Attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP
The NYC car accidents attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP are familiar with personal injury claims and can help you with claims against the other driver’s insurance company to recover monetary value for:
- Pain and Suffering
- Lost wages caused by disability from work
- Cost of necessary past and future medical treatment
- Permanent loss of function, scarring, or disfigurement
- Your spouse and children may be compensated for deprivation of services of a family relationship, or loss of consortium.