Last year, my wife was involved in a car accident when she was hit by another driver. Obviously this is a rare (hopefully) and stressful situation and it is difficult to know what you need to do when you are already shaken up, so I created this handy guide to the information you should collect while at the scene.
What To Do
- If there are injuries, call 911 to get an ambulance and police
- If there are no injuries, Call local law enforcement to file an accident report
- Get the other driver's information
- Take pictures
- Make notes of what happened
Other Drivers' Information
- Full name
- Phone number
- Insurance company
- Insurance policy number
- Vehicle make, model, and year
Witnesses
- If any other drivers stop, ensure you get their contact details as well
Law Enforcement
- Name
- Badge number
- Agency
- Report number
Notes
- Date and time of the incident
- Location (both address and directional. For instance on Main St. heading west)
- Weather conditions
- Traffic (light, heavy, slow moving etc.)
- Anything else that may have contributed to the accident
Pictures
- Pictures of the damage to your vehicle
- Picture of the other driver's vehicle
- Photos of the surrounding area particularly if there is bad weather or obstructions