Exchange Information

Typically, the investigating officer obtains this information. However, if the police do not respond to the accident, you should obtain the name, address and telephone number of all persons involved in the accident. Both drivers, WITNESSES and passengers.

After the accident, exchange the following information: name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver license number and license plate number for the driver and the owner of each vehicle. If the driver’s name is different from the name of the insured, establish what the relationship is and take down the name and address for everyone.

• Make a written description of each car, including year, make, model and color and the exact location of the collision and how it happened.
• Be polite but don’t tell the other drivers or the police that the accident was your fault, even if you think it was.
• You should also obtain information about insurance by asking to see the insurance card for all vehicles involved in the accident.
• If there are witnesses, you should get information from them as well so that you or your attorney can contact them in the future.

If police respond to the accident, the investigating officer usually will provide all drivers with a police report number. You can use that number later to obtain the police report. If the accident occurs on a state highway, you must request the report from the state police.

Don’t speak with or give the other driver’s insurance companies any verbal statements. You are not required to and their questions are designed to place blame on you and minimize your damages. They may even sound very helpful and even friendly over the phone in order to earn your trust, however they are trained experts in compensating you as little as they can get away with.