Sharing Contact Information at the Scene of a Car Accident

A car accident is never welcome. At the very least, it’s inconvenient, but it can also cause bad damages and injuries. After a car accident, you may feel stunned or confused about what to do next. That's normal. You've just been through a traumatic experience. Accidet.com can help you move forward.

If you've been in a car accident, there are steps you can take at the scene that will benefit you as you pursue a claim. If nothing else, be sure to swap contact information with the other driver. In fact, without their contact information, you may not have a case at all!

Most people have cell phones with them, but if you don’t have one or you can't use it (dead battery or damaged in the wreck), use a pen and paper to document important details. If you decide to hire an accident attorney, the information will greatly help your case.

As you gather contact information, there are specific matters to pay attention to, which will ensure your attorney has all the data they need to get you the compensation you deserve.

Safety Is Most Important

Before worrying about contact details, right after an accident, check for injuries both to yourself and the other driver. If anyone has been injured, call 911. If you're badly injured, remain in your car until help arrives. It's vital for you to stay where you are to prevent further injury or strain.

You may not even feel pain at first due to the adrenaline surge after a car accident. However, it’s good to have a doctor check you, whether that's a paramedic at the scene or a doctor afterward. Your well-being is most important, so be sure to seek help as soon as possible.

Contact Information Basics

After ensuring everyone's safety, you should get the following information:

• The other driver’s name and contact information.
• The driver’s insurance policy number and phone number for reporting claims.
• A description of the other car and license plate number.

When getting information from a driver's license, don't take the person's word for it. Ask to see the license itself. Write down the name and address as listed on the driver’s license. Confirm with the driver that the address is current as well.

Also, record the driver’s license number, and obtain the driver's phone number. Note any passengers in the vehicle too. The more information you can gather, the easier it'll be for your car accident attorney to understand what happened.

Don't Forget About Insurance and Vehicle Details

Other contact information to get includes the driver’s insurance card. This should be the insurance card for the car that was in the accident. If the driver borrowed someone else’s car, they may only be able to provide their own insurance card. This isn't a problem. Capture the information you're able to. Your accident attorney, acting on your behalf, will handle the details of filing insurance claims with the right company.

Document the name of the insurance company from the card, the policy number and the phone number. (Again, get these details from the card itself, not from the other person's memory.) The policy number is the account number for the insurance policy. It's used when contacting the other driver’s insurance company to file a claim and start the process of repairing your vehicle or paying your medical bills.

Also, note the make and model of the other vehicle, as well as the color. Make sure to detail out the car damages, and write down the license plate number and the state of the license plate.

What If the Other Driver Won't Cooperate?

In the event the other driver won't provide their license or insurance information, it's a bad sign. There could be a number of reasons why the other party is uncooperative. They may not have a valid license or insurance. Your safety is most important, and you don’t want to escalate the situation into a hostile problem. At the very least, record the license plate number and return to your vehicle.

Call 911, and send the police to the scene. They'll take an incident report, documenting all of the information you weren't able to obtain.

You can request a copy of this police report, which will include the other driver’s contact information, either through the police department or your state's department of transportation.

Why This Information Is Important

If you decide to take legal action, you need to provide as much information as possible to enable your attorney to better assist you in your case. Since your attorney wasn't at the scene of the car accident, it’s up to you to help fill in their blanks. The more contact information and other details you can provide, the faster your attorney can take action.

As your legal representative, your attorney will contact the other driver’s insurance company and file a claim on your behalf, using the information you provided. All communication from the insurance company will go to them, which will allow you to focus on your recovery and get back to your normal life. Your attorney will work to obtain the best possible settlement for you.

Seeking an Accident Attorney

To pursue your claim, speak with an attorney from Accident.com today. We can get you in touch with an accident attorney for a free consultation. If they accept your case, you'll get a personal advocate and expert guidance to help you get compensation. It’s important to take action as soon as possible, so don’t delay!f