How To Take Effective Car Accident Notes
Americans rely almost entirely on cars for their daily commutes and personal travel. Due to this, the vast majority of drivers will eventually find themselves in traffic accidents, however minor, even when good driving habits are generally adhered to. When this occurs, it is important to stay calm and to keep your frustration in check. When interacting with involved drivers and law enforcement, stay consistent in your tone and perspective. It is important that you avoid apologizing, or admitting fault.
Start Documenting as Quickly as You Can
The moment that you stop your vehicle after an accident, determine if you are injured and need emergency help. Don’t hesitate to call 911 if you or others are injured. All documentation comes second to ensuring that everyone involved is safe and receiving any needed medical attention.
As soon as you have determined that you are in a safe position, whether or not that includes leaving your vehicle, you must begin the documentation process. Take out your phone, pen and paper, and write down as much of the following as you have access to:
- The date, time, and location of the accident
- Your vehicle’s make, model, and license plate
- The make, model, and license plate of other involved drivers
- Where the vehicles were in relation to each other at the time of the encounter
- Approximate speeds and directions of each vehicle
- The actions taken by the drivers before, during, and immediately after the accident
- Photos of all vehicles, their positions, and any damage to them
- Any injuries that resulted from the accident, no matter how minor
Request the following information from the other driver:
- Their full name with correct spelling
- Car insurance information
- Phone number
- Home address
- Any injuries they suffered
Once initial documentation has been completed, contact the local police department to inform them of the accident. Wait with your vehicle for them to arrive, and in the meantime, avoid arguing with or accepting “deals” from others involved. These can weaken your case later on, and out of pocket compensation, intended to “make things right” at the scene, are often monetarily far below the true cost of any damage or injuries suffered. Be civil, straightforward, and patient while you wait for law enforcement to arrive.
After the Accident
To protect your right to fair compensation after a car accident, keep careful track of any notes you took and information you received immediately after the event. Many modern cars are equipped with dash cams, whether they are built in or added on by the consumer. Remember to check your camera’s memory from the time of the accident, if you have one. Extracting, backing up, and adding these files to your collected information surrounding the accident could add substantial value to your case. Along with gathering accurate post-accident evidence to support your claim, writing down how injuries sustained during the accident have affected you since the event can go a long way towards substantiating your damages and showing how you’ve been significantly impacted over the long term.
If you need to visit the emergency room or a doctor for any injuries or physical symptoms caused by the accident, keep copies of those records and bills in the same file as the notes taken at the time of the encounter. Even if these visits are days, weeks or months after the accident, they can still hold relevance to your case. Musculoskeletal injuries, neck strain, head injuries or skin lesions can take a long time to heal, and often reduce function and the ability to work. Additionally, any communications you have with your employer regarding time taken off or duties reduced due to injuries also must be included in your accident file.
When you meet with your lawyer, all of the above information will go a long way to building a case.
For legal counsel for your set of facts, contact the attorneys at Sandberg Haddon LLC.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not intended for and should not be used as a replacement for legal advice.