sideswiped car

Typically, when you hear that someone has been involved in a vehicle accident, you do not imagine a sideswipe accident. However, sideswipe car accidents are more common than one might think. Depending on the facts of the case,  a driver may lose control of their vehicle or have it run off the road – or into another vehicle’s path.

If involved in a sideswipe accident, there are important steps you must take. The first thing you should do is call the police and seek any medical attention you may need. Wait for the police to arrive before making any statements. When the police arrive to make a report of the accident, do not admit fault.  and If possible, document the scene by taking pictures of the scene and noting important conditions, such as the weather, before you leave the scene. Next, it is important to reach out to a Long Island car accident lawyer who can assist you with claiming the costs of your medical bills and other damages. However, you have a limited window to report your accident to the appropriate insurer, so time is of the essence. 

What to Do After You Have Been Involved in a Sideswipe Crash

The moments immediately after an accident are critical, as are the next few days.   The following steps will help to preserve your right to file a claim and seek payment for your injuries while ensuring you recover as quickly as possible. 

Stop as Soon as You Can Safely Do So

Sideswipe accidents can often lead to secondary collisions after the initial impact as the first driver often loses control of their vehicle. After the initial impact, it is important to maintain as much control over your vehicle as possible. Keep your grip on the steering wheel and your eyes open. If you skid, steer into the skid rather than over-correcting. Apply brakes firmly, but if you have room to stop then avoid fully slamming on the brakes, which may cause your tires to lock. Instead, shift your vehicle into neutral and guide it to a stop as smoothly as possible.

If you can continue to steer and operate your vehicle, guide it towards a safe location off the side of the road. Avoid stopping in traffic or on a median, if possible.

Remain Calm, and Exchange Information With Other Drivers

New York law (VAT § 600) requires that all drivers involved in a collision stop and provide each other with information. That includes the information on their driver’s license as well as their liability insurance policy card.

When exchanging information, avoid apologizing or admitting fault. Furthermore, do not openly accuse the other driver of being at fault. Instead, try to remain calm and focused on the other tasks ahead.

Report the Accident and Any Injuries

Once your vehicle has come to a complete stop, assess yourself and everyone in the vehicle for injuries. If you are able to move, ask others involved if they are injured. Then, dial 911 to report the collision.

Report all injured parties, and request an ambulance for anyone who is visibly injured or in significant pain. Remember that in stressful situations your body produces the hormone adrenaline. Adrenaline can make you numb to pain, so err on the side of caution before assuming an ambulance is not needed.

Seek Medical Attention

Receiving medical care is a top priority when you have been hurt in a sideswipe collision. Once EMTs arrive, allow them to examine you and perform an assessment of your possible injuries. If they recommend transport to the nearest emergency department, follow their advice.

If you are not evacuated before police arrive to document the scene, then take a moment to document the scene yourself, as described further below. Also, make your statement to the police, while keeping the following guidelines in mind.

If you are not in need of immediate medical care, you may wait to seek medical attention until after the police have created an accident report and you have documented the scene of the accident. Visit the nearest emergency department if you are in pain or are concerned about possible injuries. If you think you may have minor injuries, seek out medical care from a clinic or primary care physician within the next few days. Whether you have sustained severe or minor injuries, keep detailed notes about your injuries and the care you receive. 

Never delay seeking care. Doing so could not only impact your ability to recover, but it can also hurt your ability to file an injury claim seeking damages.

Don’t Admit Fault

When police respondents arrive, provide them with a full, accurate accounting of the sequence of events, to the best of your knowledge. Don’t openly admit fault, however, and don’t volunteer information that could lead anyone to the conclusion that you were clearly at fault. Answer all questions truthfully, but avoid speculation, including laying blame on yourself or others. 

Document the Scene

If you are able to, begin documenting the scene after emergency responders have been notified. Take photos of the wreckage, preferably before any vehicles are moved from the scene, including close-ups and photos from a distance that establish the location and overall layout of the accident. Take a picture s of any visible injuries or bruises in the immediate aftermath of the accident. Also, take pictures of the damage to the vehicles as well as the license plates of all of the vehicles’ involved in the accident. 

If any witnesses stop to assist, ask if they can provide you with their contact information. You may request a recorded statement detailing their version of the incident.

Talk to a Lawyer 

You have a limited window to report your accident to insurers. No-fault policies in New York have a 30-day time limit to file a notice of a claim. Liability insurance providers often have a similar policy window. While the window may be extended if you discover your injuries days (or sometimes weeks) after the crash, know that in some cases the insurer may not be willing to grant an extension.

An experienced attorney can help you determine the extent of your injuries and how they have affected your life, estimate your damages, and begin working with insurers.  Typically, those injured in an accident are not aware of their rights. Thus, it is important to enlist an attorney who knows your rights and can help protect those rights and assure you avoid making common mistakes once you begin negotiating your claim.

Tona Law has fought for the rights of residents of injured Long Islanders for over 20 years. Let our experienced car accident attorneys help you recover the financial damages you have suffered in the aftermath accident. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today when you call 1-833-TONALAW (833-866-2529) or contact us online.

What Our Clients Are Saying

Excellent5.0 Based on 381 reviews from review us onJennifer CaceresJennifer Caceres ★★★★★ I highly recommend using tonalaw. Lauren and Jada are amazing. Any questions or concerns I had they answered. I am happy I choose tonalaw .Response from the ownerThank you so much for your review Jennifer! We are so glad to hear that you were pleased with our responsiveness and thoroughness in addressing your questions and concerns. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to providing our clients with the best possible legal representation. Thank you again for your kind words. We are honored to have you as a client. Carlos UmanaCarlos Umana ★★★★★ Excelente atención buena comunicación contestan mis preguntas con sinceridadResponse from the ownerThank you so much for your review Carlos! Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we will continue to strive to provide you and all of our customers with the outstanding service you deserve. Yanira Del ValleYanira Del Valle ★★★★★ Mr. Tona is such a wonderful human and attorney. So helpful, without a second thought, he shares his knowledge and experience. He helps makes this Plaintiff community a better one. Thank you!!!Response from the ownerThank you Yanira! It was so great meeting you. Marvin SortoMarvin Sorto ★★★★★ TonaLaw is a very reputable firm. Ana is such a great asset to the firm. She is also bilingual with many years of experienceResponse from the ownerThank you for your kind words Marvin! gary gundersengary gundersen ★★★★★ I’ve been to tona law several times already and I’ve had the pleasure to deal with Ana both time and she was amazing. Made sure all paperwork was in order and is super thorough with everything. Highly recommendedResponse from the ownerThank you so much for taking the time to share your positive experience with us at Tona Law. We are so glad to hear that you were pleased with the services provided by Ana. We are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality legal representation, and we are always striving to exceed expectations. Jennifer PorterJennifer Porter ★★★★★ Tom Tona puts so much emphasis and effort into developing a fantastic law firm, delivering excellent results for their clients and also staying at the forefront of law firm management skills. I am super impressed by my conversation and interaction with Tom and am happy to recommend him!Response from the ownerJennifer, thank you so much for this wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you were impressed with your conversation and interaction with Tom. We strive to provide a positive and supportive experience for all of our clients, and we are so glad to hear you had such a positive interaction with Mr. Tona. Thank you again for your kind words. Janet SowinskiJanet Sowinski ★★★★★ Lauren, one of the paralegals at Tona Law is very knowledgeable, compassionate and very professional. She genuinely cares for her clients and is always willing to go the extra mile to help. Having known her for several years, i can confidently recommend both Lauren and Tona Law to anyone seeking great assistance.Carmen SandovalCarmen Sandoval ★★★★★ Quiero darles las gracias por haberme representado en mi caso, felizmente estos abogados lograron ganar ni caso, y estoy muy satisfecha por su gran trabajo, hablan español y la señorita Ana es muy atenta y cordial y amable con sus clientes, muchisinas gracias x sus servicios ademas de ser rapidos, nos ayudan mucho especialmente a las personas qué sólo hablamos español, les recomiendo este servicio de abogados muy honestos. Muchas gracias👌😘Miguel MenaMiguel Mena ★★★★★ Ana is extremely knowledgeable and a great asset to your firm! Definitely will be coming back.Sandie RivasSandie Rivas ★★★★★ Ana is amazing! Working with her was extremely enjoyable. She is a great asset to Tonalaw and always eager to help!Darwin RomeroDarwin Romero ★★★★★ Ana was an absolute pleasure. She was incredibly knowledgeable and thoughtful throughout the entire process. Highly recommend!Emma SortoEmma Sorto ★★★★★ Ana is a wonderful personal. She is very talented and very hardworking. Best thing is that she is bilingual! Always willing to help anyone who is in need of a hand! You are in great hands at Tona Law!nicole garcianicole garcia ★★★★★ Couldn’t recommend Lauren more!!! I’ve known Lauren for years, she is a dedicated, hard worker and is so professional when it comes to her job. She really cares about her clients and doing the best for them.Dolceprincipessa xoDolceprincipessa xo ★★★★★ I highly recommend Will Ramos as a lawyer. He is a true professional. He explained my options with me and was very accessible & kept me updated! I also had the pleasure of working with Jayden. She was great as well. They assisted with my case and helped me tremendously! Highly recommend :)yessenia lopez ramosyessenia lopez ramos ★★★★★ I have know Attorney Will Ramos for many years. He is very detail oriented, a great advocate, and an empathetic individual.I have referred a few clients during their time of need over to Will and the friendly staff at Tona Law. He is willing to go above and beyond for others.CARLOS RODRIGUEZCARLOS RODRIGUEZ ★★★★★ I have known Will Ramos for 15 plus years and can attest to his character in placing the needs for others above his own. He is an asset to any organization and a team player with positive attitude.Jessica MalaveJessica Malave ★★★★★ I’ve known attorney Will Ramos for 16 years he always places the needs of others above his own. He is a caring man and super understanding and has a big heart.Bianca RamosBianca Ramos ★★★★★ Attorney Will Ramos is awesome the law firm is lucky to have someone like him part of their team. He genuinely cares for others and is always willing to lend a helping hand.Response from the ownerBianca, thank you for leaving a wonderful review for our firm. We are lucky to have Will Ramos as part of our team! Arianna RamosArianna Ramos ★★★★★ Attorney Will Ramos is nothing short of dedicated and hard working. Each case he works on demonstrates his passion for law and his care for his clients.Response from the ownerThank you for your review, Arianna! Will Ramos has been a wonderful asset to our team. JenneferJennefer ★★★★★ I've had the pleasure of knowing Lauren for quite a while now, and I must say, her dedication to her clients is truly remarkable. She takes immense pride in her work as a professional she seamlessly balances her role at Tona Law, where she's involved in legal matters. Having seen her commitment and skill firsthand, I can confidently recommend both Lauren and Tona Law to anyone seeking top-notch assistance.Celine Aubry-DumandCeline Aubry-Dumand ★★★★★ I had a great experience working with TonaLaw.The team was really friendly and helpful throughout the entire process.Response from the ownerCeline, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review for our firm. We are so grateful we were able to help you and provide you with a great experience. Thank you! Adam OmallyAdam Omally ★★★★★ I have known Lauren one of the paralegals at Tona law for many years and she is dedicated to her profession and helping her clients. Wonderful person.Alexandra DevineAlexandra Devine ★★★★★ Lauren at TonaLaw was extremely helpful! She was so nice and professional. I highly recommend asking for her!Margaret CaschettaMargaret Caschetta ★★★★★ I have known Lauren for a long time and she’s always been dedicated to her job! Excellent at anything she’s ever done.NICOLE GUASTONICOLE GUASTO ★★★★★ Lauren’s great- reliable empathetic the whole package - years of knowing her I wouldn’t ask for anyone elsejs_loader