Car Accident Checklist – What to Do After an Accident

Knowing what to do if you're involved in a car accident before it happens is the best way to be prepared. After a car accident, even a minor fender bender, people aren't thinking clearly. Should you call a car accident lawyer? The police? Review the following checklist now to familiarize yourself with it, print out a copy and keep it in your glove compartment so you can figure out what to do after a car accident.


Stay Calm - if you allow yourself to overreact or panic, you'll just make the situation worse. Stay calm so you can determine whether there are any injuries requiring medical attention and the extent of the damage to the vehicles.

Call the Police - even if it's a minor accident, you should file an accident report with the police. Don't leave the scene of an accident without calling the police for an accident report.

Don't Discuss the Accident with the Other Parties - after an accident, you may want to talk about what happened with the other drivers involved, but resist the urge. You don't want to claim fault or liability for the accident, particularly if it wasn't your fault! Just discuss the details with your insurance company and the police department.

Collect Contact Details - get the name, address and contact information for everyone involved in the accident. Write down their license plate numbers, insurance information, and even the VIN number. This will help you get in touch with the other parties in the accident afterwards, if necessary.

Call Your Insurance Company - try to call your insurance company when the police are on the scene, as they can provide additional details as needed to file a claim.

Consider Calling a Car Accident Lawyer - If you think you might deserve compensation for car accident injuries you've received, call car accident attorneys experienced with New York car injury cases. We'll be happy to help you: (877)288-9191 for a free confidential meeting, or fill out our contact form and we'll contact you about your case.




Lever & Stolzenberg, LLP is located in White Plains, New York and serves clients throughout the state, including New York City's five boroughs (The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island) as well as Westchester County, Rockland County and Long Island. 

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