Steps to Take Right After a Car Accident

Things to Do Right After an Automobile Accident

Call the police; If for some reason the police cannot come to the scene of the accident, such as private property, or they simply don’t show up, write down the license plate and the make and model of the vehicle that hit you, the name of the driver, license number, and the name of his insurance company along with his insurance policy number. Also get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses to the accident.

Get the item number for the police report; If you are injured or are concerned that you are injured, tell the police officer investigating the accident.

Call for medical attention if needed; it’s important to consider medical attention right away because some injuries may be internal or may take time to appear. For example, at the time of the accident, you may feel O.K., but the next day or a few days later, you may feel miserable. This is a common occurrence after an accident. So, you should be careful about giving statements. It’s best to call a lawyer immediately.

Take photographs with your cell phone or other device of the accident scene, the vehicles involved and the other vehicle’s insurance card. If the other driver refuses to provide this information, tell the police and let them handle it.

Get the other driver’s name, address, and telephone number;

Get the insurance information for the other vehicle or vehicles involved;

Get the year make and model of the other vehicle or vehicles involved;

Get the license plate information of the other vehicle or vehicles involved;

Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses to the accident;

If the other vehicle is a company vehicle, get the information about the company for whom the other driver was working at time of the accident.

Write down what happened. Even the lightest ink is better than the best memory.

Things Not to Do Right After an Automobile Accident

Don’t give a statement, recorded or otherwise, to the other driver’s insurance company without first consulting a personal injury attorney.

Don’t admit responsibility for the accident to anyone at the accident scene.

Don’t tell the police that you are not injured if you think you could be injured.

If you were clearly not at fault, don’t leave the scene of the accident without first notifying the police. It is important for the preservation of your rights that the police document the circumstances of the accident.

Don’t accept a quick settlement without first consulting a personal injury attorney. The insurance company may soon try to get you to sign away your rights to compensation, but calling an attorney immediately after the accident can help you stay protected.