After a car accident, keeping yourself as safe as possible is crucial. You should also ensure you’re prepared for an insurance claim.
Using your smartphone, or pen and paper, write down the name, insurance company, policy number, and driver’s license of everyone involved in the accident. Also, record the police officer’s name and badge number.
Call the Police
Even if the accident seems minor, you should call the police. If you have an accident without reporting it to the police, you may face problems later when you file a claim or lawsuit.
When calling the police, remain calm and stick to the facts of what happened. It is the police officer’s job to gather information from all parties.
Provide the officer with your name and contact information and the names of all other drivers involved in the crash, their driver’s license numbers, and insurance details (company and policy number). Ask them for their name and contact information if someone else witnessed the crash. They may be able to provide crucial testimony. Also, make sure to get a photo of all car license plates.
Exchange Information
Next, you should exchange information with the other driver(s). If it is safe to do so and your health is not in jeopardy, it would also be a good idea to get the names of any witnesses.
Ask for the other driver’s name, address, phone number, insurance company, and policy number. Also, be sure to confirm that the driver is insured by the name on their insurance card-sometimes spouses or relatives share policies with other drivers.
Additionally, you should also note the make and model of their vehicle, as well as any damage that was sustained. This will help your car wreck attorney later. If the police were called to the scene, try to get a copy of their report.
Take Pictures
In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, it is unlikely that you will think to take pictures. You will likely be concerned about whether you are injured, how to get home, or how the collision will affect your daily life.
Taking photos can help ensure that substantial evidence is recovered. If a police officer or another driver gives a different account of the events, your pictures will help to clear up any confusion.
It would be best to capture as many angles and details as possible. This will give a jury an accurate picture of the scene. Be sure to photograph any damage to the vehicles involved, skid marks, and other relevant items. It is also a good idea to capture the weather conditions and other surroundings.
Call Your Insurance Company
You must call your insurance company immediately, regardless of who is at fault. However, it would be best to only speak to the other driver’s insurance company once it has been determined safe.
Be careful when describing how you feel, and avoid making any admissions of fault, as these statements may hurt your case later on. It would be best to get a record of the other driver’s name, address, phone number, insurance policy information, license plate number, and vehicle details. This information is critical, especially if the other driver flees the scene. It may help law enforcement track them down. In addition, it can help determine if the driver has medical benefits, known as “med pay,” which should cover your accident-related expenses.
Contact an Attorney
If you can, try to document everything at the accident scene using your phone’s camera and voice memo feature (but don’t share anything personal like your Social Security number or insurance policy coverage limits). Ensure you get an accurate vehicle description, including year, make and model, license plate number, and color. If there are witnesses, try to get their name and contact information too.
It is also essential to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. If you wait even a few days, the insurance company may argue that your injuries did not occur in the crash or were sustained by something else. This could drastically reduce your claim value. Your doctor can give you an unbiased account of your injuries and how they occurred in the accident.
