What To Do if You’re Involved In an Auto Accident

By Christopher L. Thayer

If you have been involved in an auto accident, here are some general suggestions for what to do first.

  • Be Careful. You will likely be in a state of shock. Make sure to take precautions for your safety and health and the safety and health of all your passengers at all times.
  • Check for Injuries and Verify the Safety of Others. Make sure you and your passengers are not badly injured. If it is safe to do so, exit your car and verify whether the drivers and occupants of other vehicles involved are seriously injured. If anyone is seriously injured, provide first aid if appropriate and call 911.
  • Call Police. Dial 911 for local police and tell them you have been involved in an accident.
  • Look for and Talk to Witnesses. Look around and see if there are any witnesses who saw the accident. It is important to do this right away because people will generally leave the scene of an accident within seconds or minutes. If you find witnesses, get their contact information. You may wish to photograph the license plates of any vehicles in the vicinity to help track down potential witnesses at a later date.
  • Photograph Vehicles Before Moving Them. It may be necessary and appropriate to move the involved vehicles off of the roadway so as not to impede traffic or cause a safety hazard. If possible, photograph the cars in the position they came to rest after the collision and before they are moved. With today’s small digital cameras, it’s easy to keep one in the car.
  • Photograph Damage to Vehicles. Take photographs of damage to all the vehicles involved in the accident. Take pictures from multiple angles.
  • Photograph the Accident Scene. Take photos of skid marks, damage to curbs, tress, railings, or nearby buildings. Photograph the scene from multiple angles. Be sure to capture curbs, railings, utility poles, or other objects that may have been damaged in the collision.
  • Record Information from Drivers and Passengers. Obtain information from all drivers and passengers of every vehicle involved in the accident – including name, address, phone numbers, insurance policy number and insurer’s phone number, driver’s license number, and license plate number.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in an auto accident in the State of Washington, please contact Christopher Thayer by calling (toll free) 1-866-884-2417. There is no charge for the initial 20-minute consultation.

Christopher L. Thayer

Christopher L. Thayer

Practice Areas

  • Business Law
  • Litigation
  • Commercial, Banking & Financial Law
  • Personal Injury
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Wrongful Death

“It was wonderful working with Chris. We had no worries about how he handled our case in the wrongful death of our mother. Not only did we receive a nice settlement, he was easy to deal with and never lost sight of how hard it was for us. We are eternally grateful for this.”
Cindy Poirier
Greensburg, PA

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