IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO GATHER AFTER AN ACCIDENT

With winter just around the corner, the roads are already getting icy and even more dangerous. Icy and snowy conditions significantly increase the chance of a car accident, causing an average of more than 4,000 accidents combined each year.

Higher risk of an accident does not mean you will be involved in one. However, it is still important to know the basic information you should gather after an accident.

First: Important reminders

First things first, find out if anyone is injured after an accident. If so, call 911 to get medical help. Even if there is no immediate sign of injury, the time after an auto accident can be hazy. You may be in shock, which medical professionals can also help you with. It is possible for injuries to appear later as well.

At the scene of the accident, you will have to interact with the other driver involved in the accident. It is important to remain polite, but not to admit fault when speaking with them. Without an admission, it is mostly up to evidence to determine who was at fault for the accident.

Seven essential pieces of information

There are seven important pieces of evidence to gather after an accident:

1. The time and date
2. A description of the accident
3. The name of the other driver involved
4. The other driver’s car insurance information
5. Any possible eyewitness accounts of the accident
6. All damage, including to your person, vehicles or other property
7. The environment, including traffic and weather conditions

If the police are present at the scene, they collect information to file a report of the accident. Having your own documentation can help your insurance claim, providing you collected more details than the police may have.

Stay safe

The most important thing to remember is to drive safely. Most Connecticut drivers know how to navigate the roads in difficult conditions. However, even the safest drivers could find themselves in an accident. Collecting detailed information is only one of the steps to take after an accident, but it will make all the rest of the steps easier.