A car crash can happen in the blink of an eye. One moment, you may be waiting at a stop light, with seemingly the next moment having paramedics standing over you checking for injuries.
In the chaos following a collision, after you have been examined, you may forget to exchange insurance or contact information with the other driver. However, exchanging information is important to ensure that you are compensated for your injuries (or vehicle damage if you did not get hurt).
In this blog, our PA personal injury lawyers provide an overview of what information should be exchanged in the aftermath of a crash.
Six Items of Information You Should Exchange After a Car Accident
If you are one of the parties involved in a car accident, the following information should be shared between you and the other drivers:
Full Names of All Parties Involved
You need to get down the names of the other drivers and passengers involved in the crash. If someone witnessed the crash, you will want to write down his or her name, too. Be sure to verify spelling.
Home Address and Contact Information
Besides the names of involved parties, you will want to write down their home addresses, e-mail addresses, and best phone numbers to reach them. If somebody has both a home phone and cell phone, try to get both numbers.
The Individual Insured Under Each Policy
Frequently, the driver of the vehicle is not the person insured under the auto policy. The person driving the vehicle may not be the owner of the car but perhaps a friend or family member borrowing it.
More information is better than not enough, so you should get down the name of the driver and the name of the vehicle owner. If more than one other driver was involved in the crash, then get down each motorist’s insurance information.
Drivers’ License Numbers
To verify correct spellings, you may ask to see the other driver’s license. Although drivers are not required to show other drivers their licenses, they must legally provide them to a police officer. Be sure to ask for the license of every driver involved in the crash.
Insurance Carrier & Policy Number for Each Driver
Instead of scrambling to write down insurance information, it is often easiest to snap a picture of each driver’s insurance card. To drive fully insured in Pennsylvania, drivers must carry the following minimum liability coverage:
- $15,000 for bodily injury or death of one person
- $30,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people
- $5,000 in property damage
Vehicle Information & Vehicle Identification Number
Be sure to get down the following information pertaining to any vehicles involved in the crash:
- Make/Model
- Color
- License plate number
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Any other defining features (tinted windows, missing wheel hubcaps, etc.)
When To Contact the Police
Under Pennsylvania law, you should call the police following a car crash if there are any injuries, fatalities, or more than $1,000 in property damage. Even calling the police after a minor car accident can help strengthen your case. Besides taking down the information of all collisions, an officer will provide an impartial perspective on who they believe caused the crash.
In addition to contacting law enforcement, you should call a PA car accident lawyer, who can look at the circumstances surrounding your accident to determine the best course of action.
Reach Out to Our PA Personal Injury Lawyer Today
A car accident can shake your entire world, leaving you distraught. Even if you gather all the necessary information following your crash, it is wise to obtain a PA personal injury lawyer before filing an accident claim. To learn more and to schedule your initial consultation, contact us online.