In addition to identifying any witnesses to the accident, try to gather evidence. Note details related to the vehicles involved in the accident, including: make, model, year, license plate number (even partial is helpful), and general description (like color, bumper stickers, and dents).

Take pictures of any vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signals, and area conditions. This could be a critical piece of the liability puzzle.

Look around to see if there are any cameras nearby, such as surveillance or doorbell cameras. Make note of their location and who you might need to contact to get a copy of the footage.

Identify other drivers involved in your accident and get their names, contact information, driver’s license numbers, and car insurance details (company, policy number). If the driver of the car isn’t the owner of the car, get the owner’s information too. To prevent transcription errors or the loss of information, take a picture of the other driver’s insurance card and driver’s license and email or text it to yourself.

If there are witnesses, get their names and contact information. Your insurance company or attorney may need their testimony to confirm your account of what happened.

Avoid discussing fault when going over the facts with the other driver. When you file an insurance claim, the adjuster reviewing your claim will determine who’s at fault based on an inspection of the vehicles/property damaged, information provided by you and the other parties involved in the accident, and any supporting documentation, like the police report or photographs from the scene.

Your auto insurance company will have a number to call to report the accident. You could also call your insurance agent who will ask certain questions and report the accident to your insurance company on your behalf.

It’s important to notify your car insurance company as soon as possible, regardless of who is at fault for the car accident. Your policy requires you to promptly notify your insurance company of any incident that could trigger coverage. Failure to provide timely notice to your car insurance company could jeopardize your coverage.

Often, injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents are not immediately apparent. Most of our clients report feeling the most pain a day or two following an automobile accident. Unless you are absolutely certain you were not injured, you should seek medical attention at your local emergency room or by seeing your family physician. Even in accidents involving minor impact, you can sustain a serious and permanent injury to your spinal cord. If you lost consciousness or were dazed for even a short period of time following the collision, you may have suffered a concussion or closed head injury. This can cause cognitive and behavioral changes if left untreated.

If you have to get medical treatment or vehicle repairs, keep records of everything. Even if you don’t plan on filing a claim, you might change your mind and you’ll need records to show your accident-related losses (called “damages”).

Auto accident lawyers recommend that you keep a car accident diary to support your claim. Note your injuries and how they impact your daily life. You should also keep a record of who you talk to and what you talk about. Be sure not to delete any emails you exchange with anyone about the accident.

If your car accident involved serious injuries or major property damage, don’t sign anything that comes from the other driver’s attorney or insurance company without talking to one of our experienced attorneys. Learn more about talking (or not talking) to the other driver’s insurance company after a car accident and how we can help with your case. You can connect with us 24/7 for a FREE consultation.