Law Articles

What Should I Do If I Am Involved In An Accident?

Stop driving. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Call 911 immediately if there are any injuries.

Bring your vehicle to a safe location. If possible, pull your vehicle over onto the shoulder or a side street. If it is not possible or unsafe, leave your vehicle where it is. In either case, warn other drivers of your stopped vehicle by using hazard lights and/or setting flares.

Call 911 or the appropriate emergency number to report the accident. Even in the case of minor accidents, it is important to create a record of the accident.

Do not admit fault. Do not discuss the accident with anyone, but the police and your attorney.

Exchange information with the other individuals involved in the accident. Be sure to obtain names, addresses, phone numbers, and license plate numbers of all individuals involved in the accident, as well as of any witnesses. Write down the insurance companies and policy numbers for any drivers involved in the accident. Take a photo of all of the other drivers’ licenses. If the car is a rental, get the name of the rental car agency. If the driver is not the owner of the car, get the name of the owner.

Get information from the police officers at the scene of the accident. Get the names and badge numbers of the police officers and ask them for a copy of the police report. Often, a copy of the police report is necessary when reporting the accident to your insurance carrier.

Document the scene of the accident. Take photographs of the location where the accident occurred, the damage that was done to your vehicle, and the damage that was done to any other vehicle involved in the accident.

In the following days, it is a good idea to check yourself again for injuries. Often, injuries may set in over time due to their latent nature. Injuries may not be noticed at first due to the adrenaline rush that follows an accident.

Contact your attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can assist you when you file a claim with your insurance company and discuss whether or not you have a property damage or personal injury claim against any of the other drivers involved in the accident.

Report the accident to your insurance company.

– Will Forero

 

 

 

This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

 

Sources/References:

https://www.allstate.com/tr/car-insurance/in-case-of-a-car-accident.aspx

https://www.geico.com/information/aboutinsurance/auto/insights/accident-actions/

https://www.progressive.com/vehicle-resources/car-accident-tips/

https://www.statefarm.com/claims/claims-help/auto/how-to-handle-an-accident