What to Do if You Are in an Auto Accident?
There are more than six million car accidents reported in the United States every year. About half of these result in injuries. Chances are you have been in an accident at some point in your life. How did you handle the accident? Did it cost you money or time missed at work? Was it even your fault?
What to do first:
- Stay calm so you remain level-headed.
- Move your vehicle away from moving traffic to prevent further accidents; you may be liable for damages to approaching cars if they are not properly warned.
- Switch off your engine and turn on your hazard lights.
- Call for medical help if necessary; if you or someone else is injured, it is crucial to seek medical attention right away.
- Call the police, if necessary. The police don't need to be called for traffic accidents without injuries, but it is a good idea to report the incident nonetheless.
Obtain the following information:
- Driver facts of all involved parties—name, address, phone number, date of birth, gender, license number, state of license.
- Insurance and registration—insurance company name and phone number, name of the policy owner (sometimes the driver is not the policy owner), policy number, any pertinent personal information.
- Vehicle facts for all vehicles involved—license plate number, make, type, year, name of owner (if the owner is not the driver, collect all above information from the car owner as well). Note the damage to other vehicles.
- Injured party information—record the extent of injury as it appears to you
- Witness facts—record name, address, and phone number of all potential witnesses. (Witnesses are those not involved in the accident – passengers are not witnesses.)
- The name, badge number and car number of any police officers who appear at the scene
After you’ve talked with the involved parties:
- Draw a diagram of the accident and include for all involved cars. If you have a camera or camera phone, take pictures.
- Note the road conditions and weather conditions at the time of the accident, the approximate traveling speed of all cars involved (you may have to estimate this), and anything else.
- Report the accident to your insurance agent. You are required to notify your insurance company, regardless of whether a claim is made or if it was your fault. Failing to notify your insurance company within a reasonable amount of time may make it difficult to collect compensation.
- Report any injuries to the police.
- If the accident was reported, try to obtain a copy of the report from the police.
- If there were injuries, obtain a copy of the initial medical report.
DO NOT:
- Leave the scene; you are required by law to stop and give your information if another party is involved.
- Lose your temper.
- Discuss the accident with anyone.
- Admit blame.
- Offer any form of settlement.
- Make any payments, or promises to pay, for damages.
- Give out unnecessary information about yourself.
Recovering compensation to cover costs for medical expenses, vehicle damage, time lost from work, and pain and suffering requires a thorough knowledge of insurance and automobile law. If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered damages from an automobile accident in Syracuse, Binghamton, or Watertown, New York, or Montrose, Pennsylvania, please contact the experienced automobile accident attorneys of the Stanley Law Offices today.
