4 Things To Document After A Vehicle Accident
For any driver on the roads, there is always the possibility of being involved in an accident. Around 77% of drivers have been in one or more accidents, and throughout a lifetime, can be expected to experience three to four motor vehicle accidents. All responsible drivers should do their utmost to ensure road safety, however, it’s wise to be prepared in case an accident should occur. If you find yourself in a vehicle accident there are a few things you can do to help your case should it go to court, if you need to make an insurance claim, or if charges are being filed against you. Here are four things you should document after a vehicle accident.
Collect All The Documentation You Need For An Insurance Claim
If your vehicle or another vehicle has been damaged in an accident, chances are there will be insurance claims involved. Being in an accident is bad enough already, so you want to ensure you do everything you can to get what you need from an insurance claim, or to build a case for a claim against you. If you are in a car accident you should consider working with an attorney that is experienced with vehicle accidents and their insurance claims and proceedings. Here are a few things to document to help yourself and your attorney build your case and claim.
1. Information From Drivers Involved
Exchanging information with the other drivers is essential. But what information to exchange? Make sure you record their name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate number, name of the vehicle owners, which insurance company with, and their insurance policy number. Collecting this information at the scene of the accident will help you file your claim quickly and efficiently.
2. Photographs
Fortunately, most of us now have cameras in our pockets, so it’s wise to use them to document as much as you can. Take photographs of any damage to the vehicles involved in the accident and any property that might have been damaged. Take photos of any injuries that are visible to you or any passengers in your vehicle. Photograph any actions taken by first responders, if they had to move any vehicles or damage them further. You can also photograph the driver’s license and insurance information from the other drivers involved. Continue to take photographic evidence with regards to injuries and damage to the vehicles.
3. Police information And Report
If you are involved in an accident you should immediately phone the police. Once a police officer has arrived at the scene they will make a police report. You should record the name and badge number of the police officers that arrive. They will document any traffic laws that were violated, take statements from drivers and witnesses, and any other observations about the accident. You will be able to get a copy of the police report from the police department that responded to the accident.
4. Car Accident Journal
Although this is not something that can be called upon as an official record or document, keeping a car accident journal will help you organize the documents or evidence you need to collect for your case. Start your journal as soon as you can after your accident while your memory is fresh, record what you were doing before the crash, including locations, people you were with, and what you were doing. This will help you gather any evidence to prove your actions before the accident.
You should then document everything you can remember about the crash itself. Ask yourself, what was I doing right before the incident? Did another driver do something that caused the accident? Was there an obstruction or object that affected the accident? Did you take any actions to avoid the accident? Record as much information as you can remember.
Record what happened immediately after the accident, including what actions you or any other drivers took, and injury or health concerns, and any damage to vehicles or property. Also, take note of the actions of the first responders, if there was a police or emergency crew, what did they do? What questions did they ask? What reports did they make?
If you follow these four things to document after a vehicle accident, you will be able to build a stronger case in your favor and get the most out of your insurance claims. Working with an attorney to collect all the data, submit your insurance claims and represent you in court will help you ensure that the accident is the worst thing about the incident.
