The most important thing for an individual involved in an auto accident to do is to stay calm, take a deep breath and then check yourself and your passengers for obvious injuries.
The next step is to call the police and get medical assistance if necessary. It is important to call the police while you are still at the scene of the accident, so that the accident can be investigated and a police report prepared. When the police arrive, you should obtain the Precinct/Troop number of the officers, the precinct contact information and the Accident Report Number, so you can get a copy of the report later.
While waiting for the police to arrive, exchange information with any other drivers involved. DO NOT DISCUSS THE ACCIDENT WITH THEM OR BLAME ANYONE (INCLUDING YOURSELF). Write down the other motorists:
- Names
- Addresses
- Sex
- Phone numbers
- Driver's license, license plate and registration numbers
- State where their driver's license and registration were issued
- Insurance company and policy number
Make note of the name and insurance of the car's owner (which can be different than the driver). Note if any of the other motorists appear to be under any sort of outside influence (drugs, alcohol, etc.).
Write down names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses who saw the accident. Then note the damage to your car and other vehicles taking down the make, model, year and damage sustained to each involved car. Record the date, time, location and circumstances of the accident (you can even draw a diagram of what happened). If you have a camera with you, take photos of the accident scene and of the damage sustained by the involved vehicles.
Finally, if your vehicle was involved in the accident, get a copy of the police accident report and inform your automobile insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. Contact an attorney BEFORE YOU CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY if you have questions about your legal rights. If the insurance company should call you first, DO NOT give a statement. Instead, take down any relevant information (i.e., the company's name, claim number and phone number) and advise them that your attorney will return their call.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident and you are researching legal options, please call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out the form to the right of the page for a free case evaluation.
