Remembering to gather the necessary evidence could be difficult in the aftermath of a crash. It may be helpful to keep an accident checklist in your vehicle with your owner’s manual or insurance information.
Contact information
After calling law enforcement, always talk to the other driver, if possible. In addition to insurance information, try to get as much contact information as you can for the driver, any passengers, and any witnesses. Also, make a note of the names of any law enforcement officers or emergency responders at the scene.
Scene details
If you have a phone or other electronic device, use it to take pictures and video of the scene. Photos and videos capture a large amount of evidence very quickly. Try to document information such as damage to vehicles, license plate numbers, vehicle positions, street signs, traffic signals, weather conditions and license plate numbers. Be sure to keep the sound on in case you pick up any statements or admissions.
Your recollection
After collecting information from other people at the scene, take a moment to jot down or dictate your recollection of the accident. Include such details as the outside conditions, where you were coming from and where you were going, what you saw and heard just before the accident and what you did to try to avoid the crash.
After an accident, you may feel shaken or upset. However, staying calm and gathering evidence may pay off if you need to make a claim.