What To Do if You Are Involved in a Car Accident

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What To Do if You Are Involved in a Car Accident

Acquire as much Information at the Scene as possible.
The information should include:

The name, address, telephone number, driver's license number and insurance company of every driver involved in the accident;
The make, model, year and license plate number of any vehicle involved in the accident;
The names, addresses, telephone numbers and insurance companies of any vehicle owner, whether present or not present at the time of the accident.

The names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident specifically including any passengers of the vehicles involved in the accident.

Contact the Police Immediately.
When the police arrive on the scene be sure to take down the name and badge number of any officer arriving at the scene.
Write Out a Chronology of Events.
It is very important to make a contemporaneous record of the events that occurred leading up to the accident and at the time of the accident. This "fresh" record is more likely to be accurate and may be used to refresh your memory of events later. The chronology of events should also include a description of the location of all witnesses, any statements made by drivers or witnesses, and a description of the damage to each vehicle, and detailed notes on the weather and road conditions.

Who were the drivers of the vehicles involved?

Did any of the driver's appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs?

Was medical assistance rendered at the scene of the accident?

What did the persons involved say? Did anyone report that they were uninjured? Did anyone admit to fault? Did anyone state that they were speeding - not wearing my glasses - running late - on the phone?

Draw a Diagram of the Accident.
The Officer arriving at the scene will make a diagram of the positions of the cars involved in the accident. You should do the same thing on a separate piece of paper. In your drawing you should include the positions of any cars involved in the accident before, during and after the accident. You should also document the location of any other obstacles that may have been hit during the accident as well as any skid marks on the road. If you are able to document this information with a camera, you should do so. Take a photograph from several different positions around the crash site and include in the photo any damage to the vehicles involved.
Never Admit Liability.
Do not volunteer any information to the police officer at the scene or to any driver or witness regarding guilt. Keep any assessments regarding speed of the vehicles and other information confidential unless the information is requested by the officer.
Make a Visit to the Doctor.
If you have any aches or pains resulting from the accident, you should visit a doctor immediately. Often, the full extent of your injuries will not been known for weeks, months and , in some cases years. However, an immediate check-up helps to relate the injury back to the its cause- the car accident.
Contact a Lawyer.
If you are injured in a car accident, the insurance company may try to settle with you quickly, before the full extent of your injuries are known. Do not agree to any settlement without contacting a lawyer. It is important to remember that there are time limits called "statutes of limitation" for filing civil claims.

Acquire as much Information at the Scene as possible.
The information should include:
- The name, address, telephone number, driver's license number and insurance company of every driver involved in the accident;
- The make, model, year and license plate number of any vehicle involved in the accident;
- The names, addresses, telephone numbers and insurance companies of any vehicle owner, whether present or not present at the time of the accident.
- The names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident specifically including any passengers of the vehicles involved in the accident.
Contact the Police Immediately.
When the police arrive on the scene be sure to take down the name and badge number of any officer arriving at the scene.
Write Out a Chronology of Events.
It is very important to make a contemporaneous record of the events that occurred leading up to the accident and at the time of the accident. This "fresh" record is more likely to be accurate and may be used to refresh your memory of events later. The chronology of events should also include a description of the location of all witnesses, any statements made by drivers or witnesses, and a description of the damage to each vehicle, and detailed notes on the weather and road conditions.
- Who were the drivers of the vehicles involved?
- Did any of the driver's appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
- Was medical assistance rendered at the scene of the accident?
- What did the persons involved say? Did anyone report that they were uninjured? Did anyone admit to fault? Did anyone state that they were speeding - not wearing my glasses - running late - on the phone?
Draw a Diagram of the Accident.
The Officer arriving at the scene will make a diagram of the positions of the cars involved in the accident. You should do the same thing on a separate piece of paper. In your drawing you should include the positions of any cars involved in the accident before, during and after the accident. You should also document the location of any other obstacles that may have been hit during the accident as well as any skid marks on the road. If you are able to document this information with a camera, you should do so. Take a photograph from several different positions around the crash site and include in the photo any damage to the vehicles involved.
Never Admit Liability.
Do not volunteer any information to the police officer at the scene or to any driver or witness regarding guilt. Keep any assessments regarding speed of the vehicles and other information confidential unless the information is requested by the officer.
Make a Visit to the Doctor.
If you have any aches or pains resulting from the accident, you should visit a doctor immediately. Often, the full extent of your injuries will not been known for weeks, months and , in some cases years. However, an immediate check-up helps to relate the injury back to the its cause- the car accident.
Contact a Lawyer.
If you are injured in a car accident, the insurance company may try to settle with you quickly, before the full extent of your injuries are known. Do not agree to any settlement without contacting a lawyer. It is important to remember that there are time limits called "statutes of limitation" for filing civil claims.