Although driving in traffic sometimes seems like the Indy 500, most accidents thankfully are not as dramatic as the ones you see in NASCAR or Formula One, or even in Pixar’s movie Cars. Roadway accidents in everyday life can range from surprising to terrifying, from minor to tragic. Even if your accident is minor, you may feel overwhelmed, or even in shock immediately afterward. This is normal.
If you are in a car accident, there are some immediate steps you should take.
1. Safety first. Take a moment to assess if you or anyone in your vehicle is injured.
2. Call 911. In Pennsylvania, if a car accident results in death, injury or severe damage to any vehicle, the law requires that you immediately call the police. If you find yourself in this situation, call 911 and wait for police to arrive. For an accident that seems minor, you still may want to call the police even though you are not required to do so because police reports are an important part of any insurance claim.
3. Talk to police. When the police come, make a note of the police report number and the officer name and badge number. That will help you if you need copies of the report later
4. In Philly. If your accident happens in Philadelphia, and no one is injured, the police are unlikely to come to the scene. In this case, you should go to the closest police district to make a report. If you don’t make a police report, not having a report could negatively impact your claim moving forward.
5. Move car. If possible, move your car to a safe location, like the shoulder of the road, but do not leave the scene.
6. Assess damage. If it’s safe, get out of your car and assess damage.
7. Take photos. Take photos of everything: the vehicle damage, property damage, license plates, location, and people.
8. Exchange information. You may want to wait for the police to arrive before speaking to the other driver or drivers. If there is no injury or serious property damage, or the police are called and do not come in a timely manner, then make sure to get the other driver’s insurance information along with their name, number and address. When you’re speaking to the other driver, stick to the facts. Do not apologize, admit fault, or accuse them of causing the accident. Make sure you get all the information you will need about the driver and any witnesses, including:
- Names
- phone numbers
- mailing addresses
- email addresses
- Insurance information from others involved: company name, policy number, and phone number
- Vehicle registration and license plate number
9. Call for roadside assistance if your car is not drivable.
After you are safely home, contact the lawyers at Aversa & Linn and we can talk you through the next steps in the process.
