What do I do if i am involved in a motor vehicle accident?

In the unfortunate event you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, it is necessary to protect your legal rights. The items listed below are a few guidelines to assist you after an accident:

1. Do not leave the scene of the accident.
You should leave your vehicle as close as possible to the place of impact, and, of course, out of the way of traffic.

2. Notify emergency personnel and police.
You should contact the police first, and, if there are injured persons, have the police call for an ambulance or emergency personnel.

3. Make the scene safe.
After an accident, there may be debris in the roadway, or there may be vehicles in the road that cannot be moved. You will need to protect other vehicles traveling in that area from these dangers. For example, put on your flashing or hazard lights, particularly if it is dark outside. If you have flares or reflectors in your vehicle, these should be placed so as to warn oncoming traffic of the dangers ahead. It is also a good idea to raise the hood of your vehicle, so long as there is not a concern that there may be engine-related damage (fire hazard).

4. Identify witnesses.
In many accidents, there may be a question as to which party is at fault. Under these circumstances, it is very important to identify witnesses who can later testify regarding the facts of the accident. The potential witness should be identified immediately, as they could leave the scene before the police arrive, and may never be found at a later date.

5. Do not admit responsibility for the accident.
Statements you make at the accident scene may later be used against you in the event you make a claim or have your case heard before a jury. In many circumstances, an individual may feel responsible for an accident, only to later find out the other vehicle was actually at fault or shared some responsibility for causing the accident. It is important to be honest with the police. However, this does not require unsolicited statements regarding liability for the accident.

6. Make notes of the accident scene.
You will want to make notes of the accident scene, including the time of day, weather conditions, road conditions, length of skid marks and street lights. You may also want to make a diagram of the accident scene, including placement of crosswalks, traffic signals, stop signs and other traffic signs, and more. In addition, it is important to preserve evidence at the scene of the accident. For example, in many accidents, your vehicle’s seatbelts may not function properly. It is important to document that fact and to have the vehicle examined by someone well versed in seatbelt safety. If your vehicle is totaled after the accident, you will want to have such an inspection before salvaging the vehicle.

7. Exchange information.
After the accident, it is important to obtain information from the other drivers involved in the wreck. You will want to obtain the following information, at a minimum: witness names, address and telephone numbers; other vehicle driver’s name, telephone number, driver’s license number, license plate number and the name and policy number of their insurance company. If the driver of the other vehicle is not actually the owner of the car, you will want the name, address, telephone number and insurance information of the owner of the vehicle.

8. Seek medical care if needed.
If you are having any type of pain or physical problems at the scene, you should seek medical care as soon as possible. If there is any concern regarding your ability to drive, or whether your vehicle can be safely driven after the accident, you may consider transport by ambulance to a local hospital. In any event, you will want to consult a doctor regarding the accident, as doctors are trained to recognize and treat injuries sometimes not readily apparent to you.