The aftermath of a car accident is often dramatic, painful, and confusing. If, however, you are physically and mentally capable of recording information, do so immediately. The information you collect from other drivers has the potential to be just as important as the facts of the case. Let our team of car accident lawyers help you gather all of the information you need after the car accident so you can focus on your health and recovery.
Get the Driver Details
Record the following details of all drivers and vehicles involved in the accident:
- Contact information, including name, address, and phone number
- Auto insurance information
- Driver’s license number
- Vehicle license plate
- Vehicle make
- Vehicle model
- Vehicle VIN number (found on the side of the driver’s door)
You can record these details with your smartphone’s video camera, your smartphone’s notes app, or with pen and paper.
Ideally, you should record the entirety of the post-accident interactions using your smartphone’s video recorder. Capture the details, pointing the camera lens at each driver as they talk.
One or several drivers might apologize or admit fault during these important post-accident interactions. Such an admission of fault can be used against those drivers to prove negligence in a court of law.
Say as little as possible to minimize legal liability. Do not apologize or admit even a slight fault for the crash.
If another driver offers to pay for the damage to your vehicle out of pocket, do not accept it. It is the insurer that provides compensation. Instead, ask for the driver’s proof of insurance and their driver’s license. Take pictures or video recordings of those documents for future reference.
If you spot any witnesses in the vicinity, flag them down and capture their name, contact information, and statements detailing the accident.
Document as Much as Possible
Use your smartphone to take a video of the accident scene, including the following:
- The closest intersection
- Street signs
- Road impediments/obstacles
- Traffic and street lights
- Vehicles involved in the crash
Be sure to take pictures of the entirety of the damage to all vehicles involved in the crash. Ideally, you should take pictures of the vehicle damage from several different angles. Those unique angles help demonstrate the true extent and magnitude of the damage.
If your smartphone was damaged during the accident or if you left it at home, do not panic. Ask another driver, pedestrian, or vehicle passenger for their smartphone. Take pictures and/or video, then immediately email the documentation to your personal email address.
If no one is willing to lend their smartphone for documentation purposes, draw a picture of the accident scene with pen and paper. Contact the police so they can create a formal accident report that helps detail the crash.
Potential Stumbling Blocks: Fleeing and Refusal or Inability to Cooperate
If the driver involved in the accident does not stop to exchange information, write down their vehicle’s description or take video/pictures for future reference. Forward those details to the police. There is a chance they can use the identifying information to obtain the driver’s insurance information.
Every Ohio driver should be aware that there is still hope, even if the fleeing driver cannot be identified. As an example, it still might be possible to obtain compensation through one’s own auto insurance.
If the other driver refuses to cooperate, use your smartphone to document the interaction. Contact the police and patiently wait for their arrival. Those involved in auto accidents are legally required to cooperate with responding Cleveland police officers.
If the driver is incapacitated or unconscious, they might not be capable of providing information. In such an instance, reach out to the police or the local highway safety department to help obtain the driver’s information.
False or Incorrect Information
If the other driver’s auto insurance information is incorrect or fraudulent, you still might have an avenue for legal recourse. Forward the driver’s contact information to the police and your auto insurer to help process the insurance claim.
Though car insurance is mandatory in Ohio, some drive without it. If the driver involved in your crash lacks insurance, do not pay for repairs out of your own pocket. Instead, collect their contact details and driver’s license number to facilitate the processing of your claim.
Report the Accident to Your Auto Insurer
After you have received medical attention, documented the accident, and contacted police, contact your auto insurer. Most auto insurance providers require policyholders to report accidents within 24-48 hours of the crash.
Even if you are not at fault, you must honor this brief reporting window. Play it safe by reporting the accident to your insurer on the day that it occurs.
When reporting the accident, detail the facts of the collision, refraining from speculation. Communicate exactly what occurred without exaggerating or making assumptions.
Do not admit fault during this conversation, as doing so jeopardizes your claim.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy pursues all avenues of legal recourse to help maximize post-accident payouts. Tap into the experience of our car accident lawyers so you can focus on your health and recovery.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
