Auto accidents are jarring events and even when we aren’t physically injured, our minds often need a moment to process what just happened. If you’re involved in a collision, the first step is to see if you or anyone else has been injured and immediately call 911 if necessary. Assuming you don’t need to provide first aid, and once you’ve made sure there isn’t additional danger, here are a few steps you should take right away:
Get Driver AND Vehicle Information – Sometimes law enforcement can’t come to the accident scene right away to do a full collision report. In those situations, it’s important to get identifying information for BOTH the other driver AND the vehicle since the driver isn’t always the registered owner. The quickest way to get these is to take pictures of the other driver’s license and the vehicle registration.
Pictures of the Scene – As long as it can be done safely, take pictures of all vehicles and from multiple angles. You never know which angle will be best to show the direction of travel, point of impact, or other important information.
Witnesses and Videos – Gather the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw the collision occur, and ask if they have a dash camera in their vehicle. Nearby businesses or homeowners might also have security cameras pointed toward the street and could help prove who was responsible for the crash.
Notes – Jot down notes about how the accident happened, and include a description of the weather and road conditions. Also note the direction each vehicle was traveling in, and on which streets. Did the other car have their headlights on or use their turn signal? Was it foggy or close to sunrise or sunset? Was the street wet or was there road construction in the area?
Call Our Office – The sooner you call the knowledgeable and experienced injury attorneys at Cooney Law Offices, the sooner we can relieve your stress and get you the compensation you deserve. We can help!