What To Do
Stay At The Scene
If you are involved in an accident involving injury, or substantial damage to property, stay at the accident scene until the police tell you that you can leave. If you have any question about whether the damage caused by the accident is substantial, err on the side of caution -- when the law requires you to wait for the police, leaving the scene of an accident can result in driver’s license sanctions and even criminal charges.
Safeguard The Injured
If somebody is injured, and you are trained in administering first aid, try to help. Do not move an injured person. Have somebody call the police to report the accident. The person who contacts the police should tell the police that people are injured, if possible also providing the number of injured persons, so that enough emergency personnel respond to the scene. If you are on the roadway, turn your flashers on, or use flares to warn approaching traffic of the accident.
Obtain Information
1. Exchange the following information with the other driver: name, address, telephone number, license plate number, driver’s license number, name of insurance company, and policy number.
2. Get the names of passengers, including their addresses and phone numbers.
3. Get the names of witnesses with addresses and phone numbers.
4. Get the names of the vehicle’s owner, if not the driver, including address, phone number, insurance company, and policy number.
5. Make notes of any conversations that you have with people involved in the accident or the injury claim.
6. Get a Police Report: Ask the police officer(s) who arrives to investigate the traffic scene to provide you with a business card, with the "incident number," so that you can obtain an accident report. Some officers will provide this information to you even if you do not ask.
7. Take Particular Notice of the Accident Location. You may wish to take notes about where the accident occurred, the road conditions, speed limits, traffic control devices, the weather, and the lighting. If Possible, and the conditions call for it, (e.g. a disabled or downed Stop Sign), return to the scene and TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS. This should be done as soon as possible, as conditions are likely to change! Furthermore, to avoid possible future disputes as to the damage done at the time of this accident, photograph all vehicles as soon after the accident as possible.If you personally cannot return to the scene immediately, have someone else do it – or CALL US NOW!!!
8. Take Notes on the Circumstances of the accident: You may wish to take notes about how the accident occurred, such as the direction of travel of the vehicles involved in the accident, and what the cars were doing at the time of the collision.
9. Be aware that if litigation results from the accident, you may have to share your notes with somebody that you are suing, or somebody who is suing you.
10. Also keep a diary about how you are feeling and the progress of your injuries, time spent going to doctors, lost sleep, events missed, time lost from work, and any other impact your auto accident has had on your life.
11. Get Medical Care
12. See a Doctor! Even if you do not feel seriously injured. If you are in a state such as Massachusetts, where no fault insurance law covers medical treatment necessitated by an automobile accident, and do not seek medical care, you may later find that you are unable to obtain “no fault” benefits for your injuries - your insurance company may argue that your injuries arose from something that happened after the accident.
If you are injured in the accident and sue the other driver, you may similarly find that the other driver argues that your injuries were not related to the accident. Also, the “adrenaline rush” from the accident can mask your symptoms – a physical examination may reveal an injury that you do not yet feel.
13. Tell the doctor if you have any loss of memory, headache, blood or fluid in your ear, dizziness, tinnitis (ringing in the ears), disorientation, nausea, confusion, or any other unusual physical or mental feeling. Many people hit their heads, or suffer brain injuries in automobile accidents and don’t realize that they are injured – it is best to be safe, by reporting your symptoms so that the doctor can rule out the possibility of a concussion or brain injury.
14. In a Personal Injury Lawsuit, you have to prove that you are hurt, and one of the ways you do that is by objective and unbiased medical findings. There are very scientific tests that can be done to tell whether or not you have injuries. Everything you say you have to be able to back up with facts, documents and with expert witnesses. Medical Records are a huge step towards meeting these requirements.
15. Follow your doctor’s advice. Complete all recommended therapy and take all medication as your doctor prescribes. Call the Massachusetts Personal Injury Law Center
If you are involved in personal injury litigation arising from a car accident, you will benefit from consulting a personal injury lawyer. Taking the time to learn more about your rights and contacting a qualified attorney are the best ways to protect your interests. This is especially true where you can receive a FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION and
This page may be considered “advertising” under Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The information presented on this page in no way constitutes legal advice and does not establish an attorney client relationship, which can only be done after you and an attorney meet and agree on the terms of that relationship
If you are involved in an accident involving injury, or substantial damage to property, stay at the accident scene until the police tell you that you can leave. If you have any question about whether the damage caused by the accident is substantial, err on the side of caution -- when the law requires you to wait for the police, leaving the scene of an accident can result in driver’s license sanctions and even criminal charges.
Safeguard The Injured
If somebody is injured, and you are trained in administering first aid, try to help. Do not move an injured person. Have somebody call the police to report the accident. The person who contacts the police should tell the police that people are injured, if possible also providing the number of injured persons, so that enough emergency personnel respond to the scene. If you are on the roadway, turn your flashers on, or use flares to warn approaching traffic of the accident.
Obtain Information
1. Exchange the following information with the other driver: name, address, telephone number, license plate number, driver’s license number, name of insurance company, and policy number.
2. Get the names of passengers, including their addresses and phone numbers.
3. Get the names of witnesses with addresses and phone numbers.
4. Get the names of the vehicle’s owner, if not the driver, including address, phone number, insurance company, and policy number.
5. Make notes of any conversations that you have with people involved in the accident or the injury claim.
6. Get a Police Report: Ask the police officer(s) who arrives to investigate the traffic scene to provide you with a business card, with the "incident number," so that you can obtain an accident report. Some officers will provide this information to you even if you do not ask.
7. Take Particular Notice of the Accident Location. You may wish to take notes about where the accident occurred, the road conditions, speed limits, traffic control devices, the weather, and the lighting. If Possible, and the conditions call for it, (e.g. a disabled or downed Stop Sign), return to the scene and TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS. This should be done as soon as possible, as conditions are likely to change! Furthermore, to avoid possible future disputes as to the damage done at the time of this accident, photograph all vehicles as soon after the accident as possible.If you personally cannot return to the scene immediately, have someone else do it – or CALL US NOW!!!
8. Take Notes on the Circumstances of the accident: You may wish to take notes about how the accident occurred, such as the direction of travel of the vehicles involved in the accident, and what the cars were doing at the time of the collision.
9. Be aware that if litigation results from the accident, you may have to share your notes with somebody that you are suing, or somebody who is suing you.
10. Also keep a diary about how you are feeling and the progress of your injuries, time spent going to doctors, lost sleep, events missed, time lost from work, and any other impact your auto accident has had on your life.
11. Get Medical Care
12. See a Doctor! Even if you do not feel seriously injured. If you are in a state such as Massachusetts, where no fault insurance law covers medical treatment necessitated by an automobile accident, and do not seek medical care, you may later find that you are unable to obtain “no fault” benefits for your injuries - your insurance company may argue that your injuries arose from something that happened after the accident.
If you are injured in the accident and sue the other driver, you may similarly find that the other driver argues that your injuries were not related to the accident. Also, the “adrenaline rush” from the accident can mask your symptoms – a physical examination may reveal an injury that you do not yet feel.
13. Tell the doctor if you have any loss of memory, headache, blood or fluid in your ear, dizziness, tinnitis (ringing in the ears), disorientation, nausea, confusion, or any other unusual physical or mental feeling. Many people hit their heads, or suffer brain injuries in automobile accidents and don’t realize that they are injured – it is best to be safe, by reporting your symptoms so that the doctor can rule out the possibility of a concussion or brain injury.
14. In a Personal Injury Lawsuit, you have to prove that you are hurt, and one of the ways you do that is by objective and unbiased medical findings. There are very scientific tests that can be done to tell whether or not you have injuries. Everything you say you have to be able to back up with facts, documents and with expert witnesses. Medical Records are a huge step towards meeting these requirements.
15. Follow your doctor’s advice. Complete all recommended therapy and take all medication as your doctor prescribes. Call the Massachusetts Personal Injury Law Center
If you are involved in personal injury litigation arising from a car accident, you will benefit from consulting a personal injury lawyer. Taking the time to learn more about your rights and contacting a qualified attorney are the best ways to protect your interests. This is especially true where you can receive a FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION and
This page may be considered “advertising” under Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The information presented on this page in no way constitutes legal advice and does not establish an attorney client relationship, which can only be done after you and an attorney meet and agree on the terms of that relationship
