If you are involved in a minor car accident there are some things you should do to protect yourself physically and legally. Even though the accident might seem like no big deal, minor car accidents can cause big hassles later on. Injuries aren’t always noticeable right away and insurance problems can come into play if you don’t collect information.
Personal Safety & Injuries
Make sure you put yourself in the safest location possible following a car accident and be sure to check yourself for injuries.
If you have passengers, make sure they are in a safe location and check them for injuries as well.
Contact Law Enforcement
The next step is to contact law enforcement. You can either call 911 or the non-emergency number if you know it. Someone will take your call, ask for information about the accident, ask about your location and provide instructions.
Law enforcement will either come to the scene of the car accident to do an investigation and write up a report or, for minor fender-benders during periods of time with a high volume of calls for service, they might ask you to come in and fill out a report later at the station.
The important thing here is to make sure a report is filed with law enforcement at some point. Having an official report about what happened in the accident is very important for insurance and legal reasons.
Exchange Information
Drivers involved in minor car accidents should exchange information. The information should include:
- Full Name & Contact Information (City, State, Address, Phone)
- Company contact if a commercial vehicle is involved
- Insurance Company Name & Policy Number (should be on proof of insurance card)
- Driver’s License & License Plate numbers
- Type, color and model of vehicle
- Location of Accident
Additional Accident Documentation
For legal reasons, it can be helpful to collect the following additional pieces of information:
- If the police come to the accident scene, get the name and badge number of the responding officer(s) – They will usually have a business card with that information
- Find out how to get a copy of the accident report and go get it
- If it can be done safely, take pictures of the accident scene with your phone. Take pictures at different angles, show property damage, show road conditions and any license plates (stay out of the way of any emergency personnel on scene and don’t put yourself in danger by walking on roads with moving traffic)
- Take note of any witnesses and get their contact information if possible
Lastly, if you suffer injuries in a minor car accident, and believe someone else’s negligence was the cause, contact us for a free consultation. We’re here to help our neighbors throughout Southern Ohio! Serious injuries can occur in minor accidents.
Contact our offices for a free consultation. Mike will personally evaluate your case and make recommendations.
