Following an accident, a person can be quite shaken and really does not know what they have to do. The following is a brief list of things that should be done following a motor vehicle accident to ensure everything this documented as properly as possible.
- If possible, move to a safe place and turn off your car.
- Check for injuries to you or someone in your car.
- When safe to do so, contact 911 and report the accident. Police may attend the scene or recommend that you proceed to a collision reporting centre to report the incident.
- If it is safe and you are able to get out of the car, speak with the other driver to exchange information. Information to exchange are names, driver’s license numbers, address and insurance particulars. Take pictures if possible.
- If there are witnesses, politely ask for their name and phone number, and what they saw. Do not leave it to the police to take the information since the witness information will not necessarily be released unless there is a court order or the party consents (which they may not do following the accident).
- If possible, take photos of the damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle. Make sure to take photos of all damage to the vehicles. Also, make sure to take clear photos of the license plate of the other vehicle.
- If you have any injuries, immediately seek medical attention. It may be that you need an ambulance to take you to hospital. If an ambulance is not necessary, go to hospital yourself. If necessary, call your family doctor to schedule an appointment if you have injuries or go to a walk-in clinic if your doctor is not available.
- After reporting the accident to the authorities, contact your insurer to report property damage.
- If you feel that the injuries you have sustained are serious, consult a lawyer to discuss what are your rights and what is involved in a personal injury claim.
