CALL THE POLICE. Whether an accident is considered a minor fender-bender or a major collision, calling the police is important. The officer will prepare a police report in connection with the crash. Make sure to get the name and badge number of the officer and the police agency that the officer represents so you can get a copy of the accident report after it’s written. Also get the report number if it’s available. Speak only with the officer about the specifics of your accident. Provide the information that the officer requests but be careful what you say even to the officer. Remember, any statement you make could end up in the police report.
TAKE PHOTOS OF THE CRASH. Taking photos to document your car accident can help protect your rights and provide crucial evidence to support your car accident claim. Take photos of the damage that your own vehicle sustained. Take close-up and away photos to get better detail. Also, take photos of the other vehicle(s) involved in the accident and the damage. Take photos of any skid marks on the road as these can indicate when a person applied the brakes, as well as the approximate speed he or she was traveling.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. It’s best to seek medical attention immediately after being involved in a car accident. If you are unable to seek immediate medical attention, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Even if you feel only minor pain after an accident, you should still seek medical attention.
If you don’t seek medical attention after the accident, the insurance company may try to use this to their advantage and claim that you did not actually sustain injuries in the accident.