Car Accident Checklist

Here is a checklist of things you should do after being involved in a car accident.

Immediately After Accident:

• Stay safe: this means you should assess the situation for your immediate safety by staying in your vehicle and not risking further injury by moving.
• Moving to a safe location: After a car accident you should be aware in case your current location is unsafe or not. You should move to a safer location if your current one is hazardous or possibly dangerous.
• Call 911: after calling 911, you should follow the police’s instructions.

Gathering Information:

• You should be helpful and polite, but do not admit to any fault.
• Make sure to take the name and insurance information of any drivers that were involved in the accident.
• Get the contact information of any witnesses that may have stopped to help.
• Give the police your name and insurance information, as well as to the other driver.

Documentation of the Accident:

• Most of us have a smartphone these days, use your phone to document the scene if it is safe to do so. Include pictures of:
  • License plates of involved vehicles
  • Damage to your vehicle and another vehicle
  • Damage to property other than vehicles
  • Accident debris, skid marks, fallen branches, etc.
  • Any other contributing factors to the accident, such as obscured traffic signs

After the Accident:

• Get a copy of the accident reports filed by the police and other drivers to help your claim.
• Get into contact with a car accident attorney!
  • They will explain what else they need you to do. Your car accident attorney will negotiate with insurance companies to get you a fair settlement for your accident.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident in the Houston area, contact Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers  to be your go-to car accident attorneys!