What to do After a Car Accident

Car accidents happen, especially if you are the safest driver out there. Unfortunately, other motorists out on the roadway are not secure—distracted while driving, texting on their phone, driving under the influence, speeding, and not paying attention. The scenario where you didn’t see the car accident coming is what you didn’t have planned. What do you do if you have been in a car accident?

What to Do After a Car Accident Has Occurred

You can review the car accident checklist below if you have been involved in a car accident. This will help you understand the steps you should take immediately for your safety and for items that may be needed later on.

Car Accident Checklist

1 – Check Yourself for Possible Injuries

Check and make sure you are not injured from the car accident. If you are injured, call 911 and ask for help. If other people are nearby, ask them for help. Try not to move until emergency responders show up at the scene to help you. However, if the vehicle smells like fuel, is smoking, or is on fire, move to a safer location.

2 – Check your passengers for possible injuries

Check and make sure your passengers are okay. If one of your passengers is injured, call 911 and let them know you were in a car accident and that you have an injured passenger in the vehicle. Try not to move the passengers, but make them comfortable until emergency responders arrive. If the vehicle is leaking fuel, catching on fire, or smoking, then have your injured passenger(s) get out of the vehicle and move away. If people are nearby, ask for help.

3 – Move to a safe area from the accident

If the vehicle is leaking fuel, smoking, or has caught on fire, it’s important to move away from it for your safety and that of your passengers (if any). Move away from the road and onto the sidewalk.

4 – Call 911 for help

As mentioned earlier, make sure you call 911 to at least report the accident. A police officer will show up, an accident report will be filled out, and the accident scene will be documented in the police report. Sometimes, the police might not show up or deny your request if it is on private property. You can still go to the police station and have a report filed. This will help your insurance claim and your attorney if injuries and significant property damage occur.

5 – Wait for the emergency responders and police

If you’re not in immediate danger, you can stay in your vehicle and wait for emergency responders and help. If you have a first aid kit and road flares, you can use those to attend to the situation. Ensure you also push your hazard lights button so other drivers can see your vehicle. This will also help the police and emergency crew spot your vehicle.

6 – Exchange Driver Information

Whenever you are involved in a car accident, you must get all the information about the people and vehicles involved. If possible, write down with a pen and paper, or on your mobile phone, the following information from the other driver(s):

• Driver’s License Information
• Insurance Information and Policy Number
• Vehicle Registration Card
• Name of the person involved in the accident
• Address
• Phone Number
• The exact location of the accident, street names, and address.
• Vehicle License Plate
• Vehicle Year, Make, Model, Color
• VIN of the vehicle. Usually on the lower left front windshield and/or inside the driver’s door.
• Witness Information (Any witnesses that saw the accident)

Use your mobile phone to take photos of all the information if it helps speed up the process. Sometimes the other drivers will try not to give you any information, so it’s essential to act fast and snap photos of as much information as possible, such as the vehicle license plate, VIN on the bottom left front windshield, etc.

7 – Take Photos and Video of the Vehicle Accident

Take as many photos as possible of the accident scene from different angles and get all the vehicles involved. You can also document a video of the accident scene, as it can help describe the scene. Having a dashcam can help determine who is at fault and help prevent any false claims that someone might make about how the accident happened. Save all the video data and keep it for your insurance company and attorney.

What photos should I take of the car accident scene?

Take photos and videos of everything from the car accident scene. Many of these include:

• Each vehicle involved in the car crash
• The damaged areas of each vehicle
• Vehicle license plates and VIN (if possible)
• The other person’s Driver’s License ID
• Skid marks on the road. (Take different photo angles of the skid marks.)
• The surrounding area can include the weather, such as rain, snow, ice, visibility (fog), and sun glare.

8 – Do Not Talk About the Accident

Only discuss the car accident with the police when they arrive on the scene. Here are a few DO NOT practices you should adhere to at a vehicle accident scene:

• Please do not talk with the other drivers, other than making sure they are ok and exchanging information.
• Please do not talk to people who witnessed the accident, other than getting their information (name and phone number).
• Don’t make a scene at the accident. It may have been the other driver’s fault, but don’t let your emotions and anger explode at the scene, as this can work against your case. Whatever you say at the scene can be used against you by the other driver’s insurance company and negatively impact your claim.
• Do not talk if the other driver is recording you at the accident scene. Ask them to please stop recording so you can exchange information. Don’t answer their questions if they are recording.
• Do not post anything on social media about your accident, as the other driver’s attorney and insurance company can use it against you.

9 – Do Not Admit Fault

Do not discuss the accident with the other driver(s). Only ask for their Driver’s License ID, Insurance Card, and Vehicle Registration information so you can write it down or take photos of them. You must not admit fault at the scene, and do not blame the other driver. Only discuss these details with the police officer on the scene, your insurance company, and your attorney.

10 – Document the Vehicle Accident

As mentioned earlier, document the entire vehicle accident with photos and video, and take notes of everything you can remember about it. It’s essential to be as detailed as possible about the accident, as you can forget later what happened. Record the date, time, and location of the accident as well. If you have a dashcam on your vehicle, save the SD memory card immediately so it is not overwritten.

11 – Get Witnesses’ Information

Ask people at the car accident scene if they witnessed the accident. If they did, ask them for their name and phone number so you can have others authenticate the story of how the accident happened.

12 – Go to the Hospital and get a Medical Exam from the Accident

You should have a doctor give you a medical exam to review your body for any injuries and overall health after the accident. This should be in the hospital the same day, if possible.

13 – Let your Insurance Know there was an Accident

Call your insurance company and let them know you have just been involved in an accident. They will ask you to send them all the information you gathered at the accident scene. Your insurance company will also help you if you have any questions. Keep all of the paperwork in one folder for documentation, as your car accident lawyer will need to review the car accident information.

Common Questions After a Car Crash

Many questions will be spinning through your head after a car crash. We have covered many angles of what to do after a car accident. You must run through the car accident checklist above and gather as much information as possible at the scene. Below are some additional questions you may have after a car accident.

What to do if you have been injured in a vehicle accident.

If you’ve been injured in a vehicle accident, call 911 and have a police report filed. If you are seriously injured, then you should have emergency responders attend to your injuries at the scene and the hospital. You must go to the hospital the same day to have doctors attend to your injuries from the accident. Before leaving the scene, try to get contact information from the hospital phone numbers. Make sure to document your injuries and medical treatment in detail. Only share the details of the vehicle accident dnd injuries with your insurance company and attorney. Your insurance company and lawyer will tell you what to do next.

Do I need an Attorney for an Auto Accident?

If you have been injured in a vehicle accident and it has impacted your work, daily quality of life, and caused you pain and suffering, then talk with an experienced car accident attorney about your vehicle accident case. Insurance companies will also try to minimize payouts for car accident victims and property damage. This is where a car accident attorney will work in your favor to get you the correct amount you deserve.

What to do if Someone Dies in a Car Accident.

Car accidents can turn into horrible wrecks that can involve serious injuries and death. This is an infrequent and traumatic event, and you must check on all of the people involved in the car accident to see if they are ok. Ensure you document everything at the accident scene and run through the car accident checklist at the top of the page. A wrongful death claim can be filed, so make sure you consult with an attorney about the car accident and accidental death.

How Long After a Car Accident Can I Claim Personal Injury?

For the State of California and the State of Nevada, it is two years for the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim from a car accident. The clock will start ticking the moment you have a car accident. Property damage has a three-year limit for the statute of limitations in California and Nevada.

Finding the Best Car Accident Lawyer

With all of the car accident lawyers out there, finding the best car accident lawyer for your case can be difficult. There are a few things you can do to help narrow down the best vehicle accident attorney, including:

• Ask a friend if they know a personal injury attorney for car accidents (Referral)
• Do a free consultation with an attorney to see if they could help you in your case
• Review the attorney’s website and see what type of cases they take, and view their team of attorneys
• Attorneys who take their cases to trial will get you a better settlement
• Ask the lawyer about their experience with car accident cases
• And most importantly, the best car accident attorney is one you can comfortably communicate with to help you with your case.

***Disclaimer: The content of this webpage, created by Heidari Law Group, is intended solely for educational purposes. While it endeavors to provide a general understanding of the law, it should not be construed as specific legal advice. Accessing and reading this site does not establish an attorney-client relationship with any member of Heidari Law. Furthermore, please be aware that the legal landscape evolves, potentially rendering some information outdated or inapplicable.