What To Do After a Car Accident

"What do I do now?" is the first question on your mind after an auto accident. Shock, pain, and uncertainty about damage and liability can be overwhelming. While a car accident may be a once-in-a-lifetime event, or may never happen to you, being prepared can save you from costly mistakes.

Above all else, no driver should be on the road without their driver's license, registration and insurance information. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) now has a way to add emergency contacts to your driver’s license. Our law firm recommends doing this for every driver in your household.

We adapted this handy checklist of what to do after a car accident from FindLaw, along with our own recommendations.

What to Do at the Scene of a Car Accident

1. Stay at the scene. Take a deep breath and try not to panic.
2. Check yourself, other drivers, and passengers for injuries. Make sure everyone is okay before doing anything else. Call the ambulance if anyone needs medical attention.
3. Call the police. Even if no one is injured, go ahead and call the police. It’s possible to file an accident report later, but it’s better to do it immediately to record accurate information.
4. If the accident is minor: Move the vehicles out of traffic to the side of the road.
5. Turn on your vehicle's hazard lights.
6. Take photos of the damage and surrounding area, if possible. Take detailed notes and photos from every angle to preserve as much evidence as you can.
7. Gather information, and be careful about what you say. Get the names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information, license plates, and driver’s license numbers from all drivers involved. Get names, numbers, and addresses from passengers. You should provide the same information to the other driver only – but do not give personal information to passengers, witnesses, or uninvolved drivers. Try to be cordial and cooperative at all times, but under no circumstances should you apologize or admit fault while the details are still being sorted. 
8. Talk to witnesses and get their information. You’ve seen Law and Order, right? Ask every witness what they saw, and take notes. If there are local witnesses, ask if they’ve ever seen other accidents at that place. 
9. Do NOT sign any papers (unless it's for the police).
10. Do NOT admit fault or discuss the incident. Speak only to your lawyer, your insurer, and the police about your car accident. In particular, you should never speak to another lawyer or insurance company without your own auto accident attorney present. 
11. Do not allow your license or registration to be photographed by others.
12. Do not leave the accident scene until the police and other drivers do.

Things to Do After Leaving a Car Accident Scene

After you leave the accident scene, there are additional steps you should immediately take to protect your rights and recover any damages you've suffered:

1. Contact your insurance company and tell them what happened as soon as possible.
2. Get a copy of the accident report.
3. Keep detailed notes on your injuries and physical and mental conditions.
4. Track your medical treatment.
5. Get a property damage valuation.
6. Contact a personal injury lawyer to protect your rights. Before you provide any statements to the other driver or his or her insurance company, you should seek legal advice to receive full compensation for the damages you suffered.

A personal injury case after a car accident can be difficult to navigate on your own. If you suffer injuries, and the other driver is at fault, you may be entitled to damages. However, the first offer from an insurance company may not be sufficient. An experienced personal injury lawyer will look out for you and fight for your best interests. Scheduling a consultation with the law firm of Snable Stevenson & Silva is always free of charge.