What To Do After A Car Accident

When a motor vehicle accident occurs, it is easy to become confused and forget to acquire necessary information. Even a minor accident can leave people nervous and shaken.

Keep this checklist of steps to take and questions to ask in case of an accident in your glove compartment or console in the same folder as your insurance papers. You may want to add important contact information and phone numbers as well.

When you are involved in a car accident:

• Notify the police.
  • If anyone is hurt, tell the police you need medical assistance.
  • If anyone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, tell the police.
• Collect the following information from those involved in the accident (including drivers, passengers, pedestrians and witnesses):
  • Full names
  • Addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • License plate numbers
  • Make and model of cars
  • Insurance status of drivers
  • Name of person to whom vehicle is registered
• Make notes about the accident including how the accident occurred (direction of the vehicles), time of day, weather conditions, damage to vehicles, names and badge numbers of the police officers who came to the scene, if any vehicles were towed from the scene.
• If possible, take photos of the accident scene, including street signs, skid marks, damage to vehicles and weather conditions. If you do not have a camera and you contact Slocumb Law Firm, we may be able to take photos for you.
• Seek medical help. Even if you were not directly injured in the accident, be aware that sometimes injuries, such as whiplash, do not appear for a few days after the accident.
• Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. If you feel that, for any reason, your insurance company may not be willing to cover the accident, contact Slocumb Law Firm before you call your insurance company. Do not answer any questions or make statements to the other drivers' insurance company before speaking to a lawyer.

Questions to ask those involved in the car accident:

• Is anyone injured?
• Damage to vehicles: Was there damage to vehicles prior to accident (including non-functioning brake lights)? Were any vehicles company-owned?
• Are you insured?
• Is anyone taking blame for the accident?

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