What To Do If You Are Involved In a Car Accident
By Christopher L. Thayer, Member (CThayer@L-H-S.com)
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, here are some general suggestions for what you should do:
- 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 any of your passengers, at all times.
- CHECK FOR INJURIES AND VERIFY SAFETY OF OTHERS - Make sure that 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 care if appropriate and call 911.
- CALL POLICE - Call the police and tell them you have been involved in an accident.
- LOOK FOR AND TALK TO WITNESSES - Determine if there were any witnesses who saw the accident. It is important to do this right away as people will generally leave the scene of an accident within seconds or minutes. If you find any witnesses, get their contact information. You may wish to photograph the license plates of any vehicles in the vicinity to assist you in tracking down potential witnesses at a later date.
- PHOTOGRAPH VEHICLES BEFORE MOVING THEM - It may be necessary and appropriate to move the 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).
- PHOTOGRAPH DAMAGE TO VEHICLES - Take photographs of the damage to the all of the vehicles involved. Take pictures from multiple angles.
- PHOTOGRAPH SCENE, SKID MARKS, DAMAGE TO CURBS, RAILINGS, ETC. – Photograph the scene from multiple angles and also photograph all skid marks, if any. Also photograph curbs, railings, utility poles or other objects that may have been damaged in the collision.
- OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS - Obtain information from all drivers and passengers of all other vehicles involved (name, address, telephone numbers, insurance policy number and telephone number, drivers license number, and license plate number).
If you or a family member has been seriously injured in an accident in the State of Washington, please contact Mr. Thayer by calling (toll free) 1-866-884-2417 or complete our contact form below. There is no charge for the initial 20 minute consultation.
