If you are involved in a car accident, there are some things you should do for legal reasons and
to strengthen an auto accident injury claim. The expert auto accident injury attorneys at
Goldman & Daszkal want you to know the steps you should take if you are involved in an
accident.
Don’t Leave the Scene
Never leave the scene of an automobile accident, no matter how minor. Law enforcement could
charge you with hit and run or leaving the scene of a crime, which are criminal charges.
Check Yourself and Others for Injuries
Assess the injuries of everyone involved in the accident. Never attempt to move an injured
person unless they are in immediate danger, such as from a fire. Call 9-1-1 to get emergency
medical help.
Contact Law Enforcement
Even if no one is injured, call 9-1-1 to request law enforcement. Do not move accident vehicles
without permission. Law enforcement needs to see where the vehicles ended up so they can
accurately diagram the accident. They will also fill out an accident report, which is necessary for
insurance claims.
Obtain Other Drivers’ Information
Collect information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including:
- Full name, address, phone number and email address
- Driver’s license state and number
- Auto insurance company name, policy number, and phone number
Take pictures of each driver’s license and auto insurance card. Provide your information to all
other drivers. Do not apologize for causing the accident or indicate that you may have caused it.
Take Photos
Take pictures of your vehicle and each additional vehicle. Get a photo of the following for each
vehicle:
- Make, model, color, and VIN
- License plate number
- Evidence of prior damage
- Evidence of new damage
Get photos of the following from the scene:
- Skid marks
- Barriers or traffic flow markers
- Nearby stop signs or traffic signals
- Nearby streetlights, especially if it’s nighttime and one or more of them is not working properly
- Nearby security cameras