Car accidents happen suddenly and can leave you confused and scared—especially if English isn’t your first language, if you don’t have car insurance, or if you’re worried about dealing with police. This step-by-step guide explains exactly what to do after a Bronx car accident to protect your health, your legal rights, and your ability to get compensation for your injuries.
This guide is for everyone: whether you speak Chinese, Korean, Spanish, or English; whether you have insurance or not; whether you’re documented or undocumented. Your safety and your rights come first.
Immediate Steps at the Accident Scene (First 5-10 Minutes)
Step 1: Stay at the Scene—Never Leave
This is the most important rule: NEVER leave the accident scene, even if you’re scared, even if you think it was your fault, even if you don’t have insurance or a driver’s license. Leaving the scene is a crime in New York called “hit and run,” which can result in arrest, jail time, and deportation for non-citizens.
Stay calm. Turn on your hazard lights (the button with the red triangle). If your car is blocking traffic and can still move, pull to the side of the road. If your car won’t move, stay inside with your seatbelt on until police arrive—unless the car is on fire or smoking.
Step 2: Check for Injuries
Ask everyone in your car: “Are you hurt?” Look for:
- Blood or cuts
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain in neck, back, or chest
- Confusion or dizziness
- Young children crying or seeming different
Important: Even if you feel okay right now, you might still be injured. Adrenaline (the stress hormone) hides pain for hours or even days after accidents. Many serious injuries—like internal bleeding, concussions, or spine damage—don’t hurt immediately.
Step 3: Call 911 Immediately
Always call 911 after any accident, especially if:
- Anyone is hurt (even slightly)
- Cars have significant damage
- The other driver seems angry or threatening
- The other driver doesn’t have insurance
- The other driver asks you not to call the police (big warning sign!)
When you call 911, you can request:
- Ambulance: “I need an ambulance, someone is hurt”
- Police: “I need police for a car accident”
- Language help: “I need help in [Chinese/Korean/Spanish]”—911 operators have translation services
If you’re injured and the ambulance takes you to the hospital before police arrive, that’s okay. The hospital will create records that prove the accident happened.
Step 4: Exchange Information (While Waiting for Police)
Get information from the other driver:
- Full name and phone number
- Address
- Driver’s license number and state
- License plate number
- Car insurance company name and policy number
- Make, model, and color of their car
Give them your information too (name, phone number, insurance if you have it). But DO NOT say things like:
- “I’m so sorry, this was my fault”
- “I wasn’t paying attention”
- “I didn’t see you”
- Any statement admitting you caused the accident
Be polite, but say as little as possible about how the accident happened. You might think you know what happened, but you could be wrong. Wait for the police to investigate. Admissions of guilt or fault could be used against you in your case.
Step 5: Take Photos with Your Phone
Photos are powerful evidence. Take pictures of:
- All damage to all vehicles (from multiple angles)
- The exact location where the accident happened
- Street signs and traffic lights
- Skid marks on the road
- Any road damage like potholes
- Weather conditions (if it’s raining or snowing)
- Inside both cars showing deployed airbags
- Any visible injuries (blood, bruises, cuts)
- The other driver’s license plate, insurance card, and driver’s license (if they’ll let you)
If you don’t have a smartphone, ask a passenger or witness to take photos for you and send them to you later.
Step 6: Find Witnesses
Witnesses are people who saw the accident happen. They might be:
- People on the sidewalk
- Drivers in other cars
- Store employees or customers
- Construction workers
- Bus drivers
Ask them: “Did you see what happened?” If yes, politely ask for their phone number and what they saw. Many witnesses leave quickly, so act fast. Even if they don’t speak English well, get their contact information. Our office provides translation services that can be used to ask the witnesses what happened.
What to Say to Police When They Arrive
When police arrive, they will ask what happened. Be honest, but simple:
- “I was driving on [street name] when another car hit me”
- “The other car ran a red light and hit my car”
- “I was stopped at the light when I was hit from behind”
Do NOT say:
- “I wasn’t looking”
- “Maybe I ran the red light, I’m not sure”
- “This is my fault”
Admissions of guilt or that you were acting negligently can be used against you later on.
If you don’t speak English well, tell the police: “I need a translator” in whichever language you are most comfortable speaking. Police should arrange for translation, though it may take time.
The police will create an “accident report,” also known as a police report. This report is very important for your insurance claim. Get the:
- Police report number
- Officer’s name and badge number
- Precinct where they work
You can get a copy of the report online at www.nypd.gov or in person at the NYPD precinct after a few days. Please get this report as soon as possible, as it is often necessary for insurance claims and later legal action.
After Leaving the Scene: Next 24 Hours
Step 7: Go to Hospital or Doctor IMMEDIATELY
This is critical: See a doctor within 24 hours, even if you feel fine. Why?
- Some injuries are hidden and get worse over time
- Insurance companies deny claims when you wait too long to get medical help
- You need medical records proving your injuries came from the accident
Where to get medical care in the Bronx:
- Emergency Rooms (24/7, no appointment needed):
- Montefiore Medical Center (multiple locations)
- Jacobi Medical Center (Pelham Parkway)
- Lincoln Hospital (Grand Concourse at 149th Street)
- BronxCare Hospital Center (Grand Concourse or Fulton Avenue)
- NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
- Urgent Care Centers (faster than ER, cheaper):
- CityMD (locations throughout the Bronx)
- Bronx Urgent Medical Care (multiple locations)
Tell the doctor or nurse:
- “I was in a car accident today”
- Describe EVERY pain or problem, even if it seems small
- Mention headaches, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, numbness, dizziness
Important for families without health insurance:
- No-fault insurance covers medical bills up to $50,000 regardless of who caused the accident
- Hospitals must treat you even without insurance (by law)
- You won’t have to pay out of pocket if we help you file no-fault insurance claims
Step 8: Report to Insurance Within 24 Hours
You must notify your car insurance company that you were in an accident. Call them within 24 hours and say:
- “I was in a car accident on [date] at [location]”
- “I need to file a claim”
- “Can you send me the no-fault insurance forms?”
What if you don’t have car insurance?
- If you were driving: You still have rights to compensation from the other driver’s insurance
- If you were a passenger: You can claim from the driver’s insurance (whoever was driving the car you were in)
- If you were a pedestrian hit by a car: You claim from that car’s insurance
- If the driver who hit you has no insurance: You may be able to claim through “uninsured motorist” coverage or sue the driver directly
What if you can’t afford car insurance? Many working families can’t afford car insurance, even though it’s required by law. If you were driving without insurance:
- You can still file claims against the other driver’s insurance if they caused the accident
- You may face fines or license suspension, but that’s separate from your injury claim
- A lawyer can still help you get compensation for your injuries
Step 9: Save Everything
Start a folder (or a box) with all accident-related documents:
- Police report
- Insurance information
- All medical bills and receipts
- Prescription receipts
- Photos of your injuries and vehicle damage
- Contact information for witnesses
- Tow truck or storage facility receipts if your car was towed
Also keep a notebook where you write every day:
- How much pain you feel (1-10 scale)
- Which body parts hurt
- Activities you can’t do (can’t pick up your kids, can’t work, can’t cook dinner)
- Medications you take
- Doctor appointments
- Days you miss work
This “pain journal” becomes powerful evidence that your injuries are serious.
First 30 Days: Critical Deadlines
Step 10: File No-Fault Insurance Application (Within 30 Days)
This is the most important deadline. New York’s no-fault insurance requires you to submit Form NF-2 (Application for No-Fault Benefits) within 30 days of the accident. Missing this deadline means you lose benefits—no exceptions.
Form NF-2 covers:
- Medical expenses up to $50,000
- Lost wages up to $2,000 per month
- Other expenses like transportation to doctor appointments
Your insurance company must provide this form. But many insurance companies forget to send it or send it to wrong addresses. To save time, you can always download it yourself at: www.dfs.ny.gov
How to prove lost wages if you work “off the books”: Many Bronx workers receive cash payments and don’t have pay stubs. You can still prove lost wages with:
- Letters from your employer (even on plain paper)
- Co-worker statements
- Bank deposit records
- Rent receipts showing you had income
- Your testimony about what you earned
A lawyer can help document informal income that insurance companies try to ignore.
Step 11: DO NOT Sign Anything from Insurance Companies
After accidents, insurance companies (both yours and the other driver’s) will contact you asking you to:
- Give a “recorded statement”
- Sign medical release forms
- Sign settlement agreements
- Agree to be examined by their doctor
DO NOT DO ANY OF THIS without talking to a lawyer first. Insurance adjusters are trained to:
- Get you to say things that hurt your case
- Minimize the value of your injuries
- Pressure you to settle quickly for much less than your case is worth
- Find reasons to deny your claim
Common insurance company tricks:
- Calling while you’re on pain medication
- Asking confusing questions designed to get you to contradict yourself
- Offering quick money ($2,000-$5,000) before you know the full extent of your injuries
- Claiming they need your bank records or tax returns (they don’t)
- Threatening that you’ll get nothing if you hire a lawyer (a lie)
You have the right to say: “I need to speak to my lawyer before I answer questions” or “Send that in writing to my lawyer.”
Step 12: Contact a Bronx Accident Lawyer—FREE Consultation
Most accident victims wait too long to get legal help. By the time they realize they need a lawyer:
- Evidence has disappeared
- Witnesses can’t be found
- Deadlines have passed
- They’ve said things to insurance companies that hurt their case
The Law Office of Steven Louros offers free consultations with no obligation. We will:
- Review your case
- Explain your rights in your language (Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, English)
- Tell you honestly what your case is worth
- Handle all communication with insurance companies
- Gather evidence and medical records
- File all necessary paperwork
- Fight for maximum compensation
Remember: You pay nothing unless we win your case. No upfront fees. No hourly charges. No surprise bills. We only get paid from your settlement, and only if you receive compensation.
Special Situations Common in the Bronx
Accidents Involving MTA Buses: If an MTA bus hit you or you were injured as a bus passenger, you must file a “Notice of Claim” within 90 days, not 3 years like other accidents. Missing this deadline ends your case permanently.
Accidents with Delivery Trucks: Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and food delivery trucks cause many Bronx accidents. These companies have special insurance and legal teams. You need experienced legal help to fight them.
Hit-and-Run Accidents: If the driver who hit you left the scene, you can still get compensation through:
- Your own uninsured motorist coverage
- The Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC)
- Crime victim compensation funds
Accidents While Working: If you were driving for work when the accident happened (delivery driver, Uber/Lyft, company vehicle), you may have both workers’ compensation and personal injury claims. These cases are complex—get legal help immediately.
Accidents as a Passenger: As a passenger, you’re almost never at fault. You can claim against:
- The driver of the car you were in
- The driver of the other car
- Both drivers’ insurance companies You have more rights and options than drivers, so don’t accept low offers.
Your Rights Don’t Depend on Documentation Status
We want to be very clear: Your immigration status is completely irrelevant to accident injury claims.
- Personal injury law and immigration law are separate
- Insurance companies never see information about immigration status
- Your accident case won’t affect pending immigration applications
- We’ve successfully recovered millions for undocumented accident victims
- You cannot be deported because you filed an accident claim
Many undocumented immigrants avoid getting medical care or filing claims because they’re afraid. This fear keeps you from getting compensation you legally deserve. Our multilingual attorneys have helped thousands of Bronx families regardless of status.
Don’t Wait—Take Action Today
If you’ve been injured in a Bronx car accident:
- Get medical care immediately (within 24 hours)
- Document everything (photos, names, receipts)
- Don’t talk to insurance companies without a lawyer
- Call us for a free consultation in your language
The Law Office of Steven Louros has served Bronx families for over 50 years. We know the neighborhoods, hospitals, and challenges that working families face. We’ve recovered over $500 million for injured New Yorkers.
Call today for free consultation: (212) 481-5275
No fees unless we win. No upfront costs. We fight for you.
Your family deserves justice. Your injuries deserve compensation. Let us help you get both.
