An accident can be rather chaotic. However, if you’re in an accident, you need to pull yourself together and make sure you handle the situation properly. After you have established that everyone involved is okay, you need to gather some information. Here is some information you should always get after a car accident.
Insurance information
By law, people need to be covered by insurance for this very reason. You and the other parties involved in the accident should exchange insurance information as soon as possible. Take a picture of the insurance information if you can. If the other parties don’t have insurance, you need to find that out right away to help protect yourself.
Pictures of the accident
It’s difficult for insurance companies to understand what happened during an accident just based on your account of the story. Take pictures to provide detailed examples of the damage. Be sure to take pictures of all cars involved from a wide variety of angles. Timestamp the pictures if possible.
Witness statements
Some good Samaritans who witnessed the accident may stay back to provide their perspective on what happened. Gather up a formal statement from these witnesses to provide to the insurance companies. Even accidents that seem clear could end up complicated if the other parties disagree with your account of the story, so a witness’s opinion can hold some weight. Ask them to stay and talk to the police as well.
Police report
After an accident, a police report can help the insurance companies determine what happened. Police officers might not be able to provide a lot of details about what happened if they didn’t see anything, but they can report the facts they have. Many times, the police can help gather the necessary insurance information for all parties. When talking to the police say as little as possible until you talk to your lawyer.
Lawyer information
If there are significant injuries, costly repairs, or the other party doesn’t have insurance, you will need a lawyer to get you the compensation you deserve. Be honest about what happened so that your lawyer can best assist you.
Accidents are difficult enough. You don’t need the following events to be any more strenuous than they have to be. Getting the proper information can prevent a headache down the road.
Author Bio: Emma Sturgis is a freelance writer based out of Boston, MA. She writes most often on health and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading and watching film noir. Say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2
