The Accident Scene – What You Should & Shouldn’t Do

After a car accident most people are shook up and are not thinking clearly. Obviously, if you are seriously injured there is not a whole lot you can do but seek the necessary emergency medical care. However, if you are able, you should attempt to gather important information at the accident scene.

Immediately after the accident, you should try to remain calm. Check yourself and others involved in the accident for injuries. If anyone is injured, administer basic first aid and call 9-1-1 to request the police and emergency medical services. Do not move anyone who is injured unless there is risk of greater injury (for example, the car is on fire). Be courteous with the police and emergency personnel, and provide a factual account of the crash (what you know or believe happened, not what you think might have happened).

If there are no injuries and the accident is very minor, and if it is safe to do so, move the cars off the road, otherwise wait for the police to arrive so they can document the crash. If you are able, you will also want to do the same.

If you are not injured and it is safe to do so, take the following steps to document the accident:

1. Get the names, addresses, employer name, email and phone numbers (home, work, mobile) from everyone involved in the accident (including passengers), and the license number for the driver;
2. Get the same information from any witnesses who saw what happened and ask them to give you a statement of their observations (you may wish to do this first since witnesses often leave the scene quickly);
3. Write down the insurance information for the other driver(s) involved in the accident, being sure to include the policy number, insured’s name and the claims phone number;
4. Provided it is safe to do so, take pictures of the overall accident scene from multiple angles (take video if your mobile device has this option) and pictures of the damage to your vehicle (outside and inside) and the others involved;
5. Photograph the positions of all traffic lights and stop signs, including your vehicle in the photos;
6. Describe the weather and road conditions;
7. Try to sketch the accident scene and jot down how you believe the accident occurred;
8. If you are injured, ask another person to take photographs of your injuries;
9. Get the responding officer’s name, department, badge number and the accident report number.

Things you should NOT do include saying the accident was your fault, or “my insurance company will pay for everything,” or “it’s okay, I have full coverage.” Legally speaking, excited utterances or statements against self-interest are later admissible against you even though they are hearsay.