Of the millions of cars driven around the United States each day, at least a few are bound to collide with each other. Car collisions are unwanted by all drivers, yet most Americans are bound to experience at least one of them in their lifetime. While a good portion of these mishaps on the road are simple fender benders where mostly cosmetic damage is found, it is important to stay alert on the scene and follow a few important steps that can keep a small problem from becoming a big hassle. Gathering some basic documentation directly after a collision can keep things clear when working with your insurance agent, local police, and your auto accident attorney.
It's always important to remember that before worrying about details and paperwork, you should assess the situation after a wreck to confirm that all involved are safe. If you are injured or find the other party is injured, it's important to call 911 as soon as possible. If none involved need medical attention, it may be sufficient to call the police to report the wreck to a non-emergency number. Remember, if someone involved in a wreck cannot move themselves, they should only be moved by a trained medical professional.
It's also important to move cars from the scene of the collision if they are in danger of being hit by other cars. If possible, take pictures of the aftermath with a camera or, if safe, leave the wreck as it is until the authorities arrive. A visual record of the scene of the collision can be useful to your auto accident attorney should a dispute arise in court. Often in stressful situations as a collision, the parties involved cannot remember exactly what happened and when. Any solid evidence at all can help determine who (if anyone) is at fault.
While anecdotal advice is less helpful than photos or even video, it can help clear up ambiguities as well. Once you've established a safe situation, you'll want to get the information of anyone who may have witnessed the impact. With any luck someone will have seen what happened and offered you help, and a police officer will likely want to get a statement depicting the event as they saw it. If they can't stick around (or even if they can), you should ask for their contact information for later reference. Also consider other resources, such as a nearby business with a camera that may have captured the event. To a police officer and an auto accident attorney any source is better than none, so look around and be resourceful before you leave the scene.
Once you've gotten as much documentation as you can, you'll want to be sure to exchange insurance information with the other driver. Your insurance company and auto accident attorney will need this information as well as any police documentation and records. Generally, anything that you want to remember after the wreck you want to have written documentation of, so be thorough and be persistent if you must. Collisions can be stressful situations, so take your time. A bit of patience and thoroughness can go a long way in even the simplest of wrecks.
