Checklist If You Are Involved In A Traffic Accident
Getting into a car accident can be stressful and leave you confused about what to do next. To make sure that you have all the information you need to file an insurance claim or to seek compensation, the following checklist can help.
STEP 1
Stop
Stop your car but be sure that you are not putting yourself or others in danger where you are parked or if you are in the middle of the road. If necessary, move your car out of traffic. Check for any injuries to yourself, to any passengers, and the occupants of the other vehicle. Call 911 for an ambulance if someone was physically injured in the collision.
STEP 2
Report the Accident
Call 911 to contact the local police if the accident caused serious injury, death. If you hit a parked car, you need to try to locate the owner of the vehicle. If you can’t, leave a note with your name and contact information on it.
Ask the officer how to obtain a copy of the accident report once it is filed.
STEP 3
Get the other Driver’s Information!
Exchange information with the other driver. Having sufficient information to identify them will help when you file a claim. Write down:
- The driver’s name
- The driver’s address and telephone number
- The name of the driver’s insurance company and the policy number
- The driver’s license information, including the license number and the driver’s date of birth
- Information about the other vehicle, including the license plate number, make and model, and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Also, if there is anyone at the scene who saw the accident, try and get their name and contact information in case you need to share this with a personal injury lawyer or the insurance company later
STEP 4
Document the Scene of the Accident
You can’t expect that the accident scene will remain in place for long. In New York, it could take a police officer a while to get to you. If an officer responds to the scene, they might need to rush to quickly complete an accident report, clean up the area, and get traffic moving again. So, it is important FOR YOU to do your best to document the scene of the accident by taking pictures and saving or tagging the video on your dashboard camera (if you have one) so that you can later prove that this accident was not your fault.
Take pictures of the following:
- The damage to your vehicle
- The damage to the other vehicle
- Your injuries
- A full view of the accident scene
- Any relevant traffic signals or signs
- Any debris on the roadway, including broken vehicle parts skid marks on the ground
STEP 5
Seek Medical Treatment
If you were injured in the accident or you are experiencing pain or other symptoms of an injury, seek medical treatment immediately. The faster you receive treatment, the better. Keep track of all of your original medical records, which will be helpful for any claims you may make later.
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