Each year millions of people are involved in motor vehicle accidents. If you are one of the unfortunate victims of such an accident, will you know what to do in the aftermath of a collision?

This article aims to help you develop a plan so that you will be prepared before an accident happens.

Before an accident occurs, ensure that you are prepared by keeping an Emergency Kit in your glove compartment. Also ensure that you have the following: insurance information to provide to other drivers involved in the accident, a disposable camera to take photographs of the accident scene including the damage to the vehicles, and a pen and notepad to take notes on what happened, including who was involved and any witnesses.

If you or a loved one is involved in an accident: Make sure that everyone involved is okay. If anyone needs medical attention, call 911 immediately. In the case of a relatively minor accident, with no serious injuries, move your vehicles to the side of the road and call the police to make a report. The impact of an accident may not always affect you immediately, so file an accident report with the police even if you feel fine immediately after the accident.

1. Exchange information with those who were involved in the accident. Make sure to get the name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver’s license number and license plate number for the other drivers involved. Be sure to obtain information concerning the names of the owner(s) of each vehicle. If the driver’s name is different from the name on the insurance card, find out the relationship and write it down on your notepad.
2. Do not make any statements about how the accident occurred, except to the police officer. Do not admit fault or responsibility, simply provide the officer with the facts.
3. Document the accident: take pictures of the accident scene with your disposable camera, including pictures of all vehicles involved and the damage to each vehicle. Take pictures of the physical location of the vehicles after the impact, any debris, skid marks or other markings on the road. Ensure that you take pictures of the entire scene including the posted street signs and identifying landmarks.
4. Notify your insurance carrier of the accident. Know what your insurance covers. You must cooperate with your insurance company, and they may want you to give a recorded statement. It is advisable to speak with an attorney before you do so.
5. Contact your attorney. While it is possible to handle a small automobile accident claim yourself, it is still a good idea to retain an attorney who understands the relationship of health insurance, medical payment coverage and liability coverage. Also, an attorney will understand the application of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, PIP coverage, and possible stacking of various coverages.

No one wants to become injured because of the fault of someone else’s negligence. The personal injury lawyers at Patel & Williams, PLLC, represent individuals who have suffered an injury as a result of the negligence, carelessness or recklessness of others. We provide afree consultation and free case evaluation to anyone who has been involved in an automobile accident.