Helpful Tips After an Accident

A car accident can be a very traumatic and stressful event and it may be difficult to think clearly if you have just been involved in an accident. This guide is a practical overview of what to do if you have been involved in a collision and should be reviewed before an accident happens.

Assess Your Injuries & Surroundings

The top priority after an accident is ensuring the safety of all people involved:

Are You Injured?

• If you are not sure, it is always best to err on the side of caution and call an ambulance.
• If you know someone else has been injured, all an ambulance.
• Even if you do not go to the hospital immediately, it is a good idea to follow-up with a doctor if you suspect any injury. Unless you were operating a motorcycle, your treatment will be covered through No-Fault (see below).

Is It Safe To Exit Your Vehicle?

• Assess your surroundings.
• Depending upon where the accident occurred, it may not be safe to exit your vehicle without moving the car out of the way of traffic.
• If you can’t move your car to safety, stay inside your vehicle keeping your seatbelt on until help arrives.

Information To Gather At The Scene

If you are able, information should be gathered while you are still at the scene of the accident.

Names & Numbers:

After an accident, you should get the information from the other cars involved. This includes:

1. The driver & owner of the other car(s) involved
2. The names of any passengers in the other car(s)
3. The names and numbers of any witnesses to the accident.

Insurance / License / Registration:

Gather information for the other involved cars including:

• Insurance information (policy & insurance company)
• State of Registration
• License Plate Number
• The Police precinct responding & accident report number

**Take pictures of any documents available**

Take Pictures

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words:

Pictures are useful for a number of reasons. If the cars have not been moved after an accident, they can be helpful to show who is at fault for the accident. They can also document the damage to the vehicles, the surrounding area where the accident occurred including whether or not there is a traffic light or stop sign, or the condition of the roadway.

Photograph:

• Position of vehicles (if not moved)
• Damage to vehicles involved
• A general view of the accident scene / intersection
• Any traffic control signals (stop sign, yield or stop light)
• Insurance documents & license of other involved drivers