5 Steps to Take Immediately After a Winter Car Accident

Cars driving on a snow covered highway during winter weather conditions in New Jersey

New Jersey brings more than just chilly weather; it brings dangerous driving conditions that can cause serious car accidents and catastrophic injuries. From black ice on major highways to sudden snow squalls in Middlesex County, the risk of a motor vehicle accident increases during the first few months of the year.

The team at Drazin and Warshaw has spent over 70 years helping families navigate the aftermath of a serious car accident. If your New Year has already included a motor vehicle accident, whether a fender-bender or the result of a multi-car pileup, your health and recovery are of utmost importance. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the top five steps you must take immediately following a car accident this winter season to ensure your rights are protected.

1. Prioritize Your Well-Being and Check for Injuries

The moments following a car accident are often chaotic. During the winter season, this standard chaos is exacerbated by freezing temperatures and the risk of secondary collisions. To mitigate these risks:

Move Somewhere Safe: If you’re able and it’s safe to do so, move your vehicle out of the way of traffic. Staying in the middle of the lane, especially on busy and icy roads like Route 9 and Route 35 increases your risk of being hit by another vehicle.
Remain in Your Vehicle: Unless there is a present risk like a fire, staying in your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened until law enforcement arrives is usually the safest option, especially if the crash occurred on a busy highway.
Check Yourself and Others: Assess yourself and any passengers you were traveling with for injury. Remember, even if you and your passengers feel fine, adrenaline usually masks the severity of injuries. You may feel fine at first, only to learn you sustained a serious concussion later on.

2. Call the Cops and Get a Police Report

Immediately following an accident, it’s not uncommon for a driver to ask you to not call the police in favor of just exchanging insurance information. Don’t fall for this.

First and foremost, reporting an accident that has resulted in personal injury and property damage is a requirement under New Jersey law. And second, doing so gets you a police report. The police report is the cornerstone of every successful personal injury claim because it documents what happened. When the cops arrive:

Stick to the Facts: Don’t speculate about what caused the accident. Instead, focus on just the facts. For example, The driver blew the stop sign. If you aren’t sure about something, be honest and tell the officer that. Speculating won’t help your case.
Mention the Weather Conditions: Winter weather plays an integral role in your personal injury claim. Was there a stretch of road that was unsalted? Was visibility poor? Details such as these can help your personal injury lawyer establish liability.
Ask When the Police Report Will be Ready: In most cases, the police officer will give you a slip of paper with details about the police report, including when it will be ready to view. If they don’t, ask them for the report number and who to contact and when so you can give it to your attorney.

3. Document the Damage, Including Winter-Specific Details

It’s always important to take photos of the damage at the scene of the accident. However, during the cold months, time is of the essence. During the winter season, crucial evidence can be lost quickly. Snow melts. Ice is salted away. And, plows can clear the roads within an hour following the crash. If you can, take these photos and steps:

Photos of the Vehicles: Take photos of the damage to all the cars involved in the accident. Be sure to capture the vehicle damage from multiple angles, including the front, rear, and sides.
Photos of the Environment: Document the surrounding area. Take photos of the road (preferably wide shots), as well as additional details such as broken lights, missing road signs, skid marks on the snow or patches of black ice that caused the other driver to lose control of their vehicle.
Identify Witnesses: Did any witnesses see the accident? Get their names and phone number. Their eyewitness accounts can corroborate your side of the story.
Rideshare Details: If you were riding in a Lyft or Uber at the time of the accident, be sure to take a screenshot of your ride receipt and get the driver’s info.

4. Seek Medical Care As Soon As Possible

Because adrenaline often masks the severity of injuries, some New Jersey drivers choose to wait several days before they see a doctor. While this may be understandable, it gives the insurance company the perfect opportunity to deny your claim. To them, if you waited to see a doctor, then your injuries must not be that bad.

Even if you feel fine in the moments after the accident, go to your local urgent care or emergency room. Let the doctor know that you were in a car accident so they can run the appropriate tests and be sure to adhere to your care plan. Just like waiting a few days to seek medical care, the insurance company will look for any gaps in treatment to deny your claim.

Note: New Jersey is a no-fault insurance state for car accidents, so you will be using your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to cover your medical bills, regardless of who was at fault for the crash.

5. Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

There’s a lot to do following a car accident in Brick or Hazlet, New Jersey. However, before you call your insurance company or give a recorded statement, contact a personal injury attorney for assistance.

Insurance adjusters, even if they’re your own, are not in the business of prioritizing the needs of the injured. They’re trained to focus on protecting their bottom line, which usually means less money for you at a time when you need it most. Especially during the winter season, insurance companies may try to blame the crash on the weather. However, remember, that even in the winter season, NJ drivers have a responsibility to maintain safe control of their vehicle. If another driver was negligent, they can be held liable. A skilled personal injury attorney will help you do that.

Injured in a Car Accident This Winter Season? Let Drazin and Warshaw Get You the Money You Need When You Need it Most

You didn’t plan to get into a car accident. It just happened, and now you’re left to deal with the overwhelming aftermath. Between paying bills, dealing with your recovery, and speaking to insurance companies, there’s too much to deal with and not enough hours in the day. Let Drazin and Warshaw take some of that stress off your shoulders.

We know how to handle big insurance companies and get to the bottom of what happened. If you were injured in a car accident this winter season, don’t wait. Call Drazin and Warshaw today at 732-333-8141 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation. We have offices conveniently located in Red Bank, Hazlet, Westfield, and Brick.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.