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While we all would like to believe that we would know exactly what to do in the event of an accident, many injured people are confused and have no idea what steps to take at the scene to help their insurance claim or potential lawsuit. Many people know to take pictures of their car damage and get the police report number. But there are other steps you can take that will likely strengthen your case and help you get things handled quickly. By being prepared and informing yourself of these important steps, you can avoid costly mistakes and ensure you have the best chance of recovering what you deserve from your accident.
Although the police usually collect contact information of some witnesses, oftentimes, several witnesses will be left off the Police Report. Many injured Georgians believe that every witness will be listed on the Police Report, so they simply do not bother to collect contact information from everyone. Unfortunately, the witnesses left off the report could have critical information that helps your case. However, if you do not collect the information and the Police Report does not include it, you will have no way to contact them later. Making things even worse, occasionally, the listed witnesses cannot be found later or become unwilling to cooperate. It is up to you to be even more diligent and collect the contact info for ALL witnesses. This will help you prove the facts of your accident to the insurance company. The more evidence you can provide, the better support you have for your case. In short, don’t just rely on the police report. Others may have a better memory or better info about the accident, so ask them for their contact info!
Police reports take time, and police don’t always get accurate insurance information. Take it upon yourself to collect the name, contact number, license plate number, insurance company, and policy number of all drivers involved in the accident.
Recording evidence is essential if you want to file an insurance claim after the accident. Once you have called the police, use your phone to take photos of the entire scene. The more evidence you collect, the stronger your case will be. Take pictures of the vehicles involved in the accident and the scene as soon as possible, especially before conditions change. Take photos of the damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles involved. It’s important to focus on collecting evidence of all the cars involved and not just your own so that it doesn’t become a “he said she said” situation once you start to deal with insurance companies.
Let’s face it… accidents are stressful. At the scene of an accident, emotions are running high, and there is usually a lot of blame and/or concern floating around. If you are involved in an accident, try not to let your emotions control your actions. Stay calm and focused, and follow the tips above so that the aftermath is easier to deal with. By being prepared and following these tips of things to do at the scene of an accident, you can make your case stronger in the event you need to file an insurance claim.
We know how painful a car accident can be. The most important thing is making sure you are ok physically and mentally, and the second most important thing is getting you compensated for your injuries. If you can’t prove your damages to insurance companies or in court, they don’t exist, so be sure to follow these tips and reach out to us if you have questions or concerns.
If you need assistance in a personal injury matter, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by visiting https://www.ckellyfirm.com/contact.