Information to Gather After a Car Accident

Below is a simple checklist you can use to gather information after a car accident. Having this info readily available will help smooth the process of receiving compensation for your injuries and damages—whether from insurance companies or at-fault parties. Make sure to bring any and all of this information to your first consultation with a personal injury lawyer. In Atlanta, call the legal team at KWF. We’re here to help.

At the Scene of the Accident

At the scene of the accident, try to take down this information regarding the other driver:

• Name
• Home address (including city, state, and zip code)
• Make and type of car and the year
• License plate number
• Driver’s license number
• Does the driver appear to have been drinking or under the influence of drugs?
• Did the driver give any verbal statement as to the cause of the accident?

Also write down the names and addresses of any passengers in the other car, as well as any other details about them that may be relevant. If there were any other potential witnesses to the accident, write down their names and addresses too.

Special Conditions to Note Immediately Following the Accident

After you gather all of the information about the people involved in the accident, record information about the vehicles and circumstances of the accident. If safe, take some pictures to record the following:

• Position of your car after the accident
• Position of the other car after the accident
• Location of any tire marks, blood, broken glass, dirt, etc. on the road or on the side of the road
• Location of the point of impact in relation to the center of the road or some physical object
• Place of impact on the other car
• Did your car skid? If so, how many feet?
• Did the other car skid? If so, how many feet?
• Road conditions
• Traffic conditions
• Weather conditions
• Traffic controls, such as stop signs and traffic lights
• Any other conditions that might have a bearing on the accident

Other Potentially Relevant Information

There may be other potentially relevant information regarding your accident. Consider the following, and write down anything you recall:

• Type of road (paved, gravel, in poor condition, etc.)
• Speed of your car just before the accident
• Speed of the other car just before the accident
• Direction of your car
• Direction of the other car
• Were you or the other driver turning? If so, were signals used properly?
• If at night, were both vehicles’ lights on?
• Distance from the other car when you first saw it
• Name of the investigating police officer

With as much of this information as you can gather, you’ll have a strong basis for your injury or insurance claim, and your attorney will have a good idea of the value of your case.

It’s also very important to contact the skilled legal team at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers. We will protect your right to compensation, and ensure that insurance companies and at-fault parties pay their share to cover your property damage, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Your initial consultation is always free, and we charge no attorney’s fee unless we resolve your case in your favor. Contact our office today at (404) 460-0101.