If you have ever been involved in a car accident, you know that there are several things that can be going through your head.  It can be easy to forget (because the accident usually happens very quickly and people are injured) some of the necessary steps that you should try to do in the event of a car accident.  As car accident attorneys, we recommend taking down as much information as possible after the auto accident.  If you get everything down when your memory is still fresh, it can help ease your way through insurance claims and lawsuits.

Before taking down any information, call the CHP, or the police to report the auto accident.  If someone is injured, call for an ambulance.  If you have flares and cones, set them on the road to warn other motorists that there is an auto accident to watch out for.  Once you have made sure that everything is safe, you should take down the necessary information.

Information you should take down after a car accident:

  • The other driver’s name, address, date of birth, telephone number, driver’s license number and expiration date, and their insurance company.
  • If the other driver does not own the car he or she is driving, take down the same information as you did for the driver, but for the owner.
  • The other car’s make, model, year, license plate number, and its expiration date.
  • If there are any witnesses, write down their names, addresses, and telephone numbers and ask them to stay to talk to the CHP or police.  Ask them to tell you what they saw and write it down if they refuse to wait for the police.  Take down license plate numbers of witnesses who drive away without giving their information.
  • Try to draw as accurate of a diagram of the car accident as possible.  Note the positions of the cars before, during, and after the car accident, skid marks from the accident, and the position of the any crosswalks, signs, and lights.  Take pictures of the car accident scene if you have a camera on hand.
  • The name and badge number of the law officer who comes to the scene of the auto accident.  You can also ask when and where you can pick up a copy of the traffic accident report.

Information you should never give:

  • Never talk about who is at fault or who is to blame for the auto accident.  The other driver can use what you say against you if you take the blame for an auto accident, even if it turns out that the other driver was at fault.
  • Never agree to pay for damages, or sign any paper except if the officer gives you a traffic ticket.

The more information you can get down, the better.  Our car accident attorneys can use the information you take down to help you in the event of an automobile accident.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney after you get into a car accident and find out how we can help you.  We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case.  No fee if no recovery.