Motor Vehicle Accident Checklist Toolkit

Car Accident Checklist Toolkit

What To Do After Being In A Car Accident

Toolkit For Keeping Track of Everything After a Car, Motorcycle, Truck or Pedestrian Accident

When you are injured in a truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, or car accident, you are thrown into a problem for which you had not planned. You are suddenly forced to deal with injuries, property damage, insurance companies and physicians. It can be overwhelming, confusing and painful. It is important to document as much as you can in the time that follows your auto accident. In doing so, you can bolster your personal injury claim and positively impact your financial compensation.

We Have Made it Easy for You

The Connecticut accident lawyers at McCoy & McCoy Law Firm, offer this toolkit as a guide – it is a place for you to take notes about the accident and to track new developments as your case progresses. While this is not a legal document nor does it create an attorney-client relationship, it can provide you with vital information and help your lawyer build a strong personal injury claim on your behalf.

What To Do After A Car Accident

  • Assess injuries right away and seek medical treatment if needed
  • Call 911 and make sure an accident report is made
  • Take photographs of your car, the other car, and the accident scene
  • Take good notes about the accident, your injuries, your medical treatment and other items
  • Go to the doctor and follow up with appointments
  • Speak with a car crash attorney as soon as possible after the accident

What NOT To Do After A Car Accident

  • Refuse medical attention
  • Talk to the other driver's insurance company
  • Admit to faultYou may be in a state of shock after a car accident. It is important that you do not make any statements that could be held against you later on.
  • Forgetting to collect information from the other driver
  • Leave the scene

Important Information To Write Down After An Auto Accident

1

Date and time of the accident

3

Names and contact information

Get the name and contact information of the other driver(s), passengers, and witnesses involved in the car accident.

5

Did the other vehicle sustain property damage?

What type of damage? Did you get pictures? Were they able to drive the car after the accident?

7

Name of law enforcement officer(s) who arrived at the accident scene

Names and badge numbers. Make sure to ask for a copy of the police report.

9

What do you remember about the accident?

Describe the accident in your point of view. What exactly do you remember? Are there any specific details that stick out in your mind?

11

Was the driver using a cell phone while driving?

Were they talking on the phone or texting while driving? Were they using a hands-free device?

13

Where did you go to seek medical treatment?

Did you go to a hospital, emergency room or other type of medical facility? Who treated you? How did that help you?

15

What injuries were you treated for?

Did the medical professionals diagnose you with anything? What was your treatment process like?

17

List all medications that you have been prescribed since the accident

Have you been prescribed pain medication for your injuries? Which ones and for how long?

19

Are you able to work?

Have you missed any days of work? Are you performing as well as you did before the accident? Has work made accommodations for you since the accident?

21

Have you talked to the other driver's insurance company?

If you have not – refrain from doing so and speak with a car accident lawyer first.

2

Location of the accident

4

Insurance information

Exchange insurance information with the other driver(s) involved in the car accident. Write it down or take a picture of it. 

6

Did your car sustain property damage?

What type of damage? Do you have pictures? How is it getting fixed? Are you able to drive it?

8

Medical Professional's Information

Get the name of the paramedic and the ambulance number that came to the accident scene. How did they help you?

10

What do you remember about the other driver(s)?

Was the driver intoxicated, angry, tired, or distracted? How did they respond to the accident? Did they make any statements?

12

Did you talk about your injuries with the paramedic?

What injuries did you notice right away that you remember telling the paramedic? What injuries were prolonged or got worse after the day of the accident?

14

What happened at the medical facility?

Did you receive any x-rays or MRIs? Did they administer pain medication?

16

List all medical providers and care that you have received since the accident

What are their names? What do they specialize in? Where do they practice out of?

18

How are your injuries affecting you?

Have your injuries impacted your daily routines? How so? Are you able to sleep? Perform household duties?

20

What have you discussed with your insurance company?

Who did you talk to at the insurance company? What did they tell you?

22

Have you contacted a car accident lawyer?

Contact McCoy & McCoy today to get your case started.

Most Important Things To Write Down After A Car Accident

Keep daily journal entires after being in a car accident

Injuries

Keep note of how you feel and if your injuries have worsened or new injuries have flared up. Document aches and pains that you didn’t have before the car accident.

Doctors Appointments

Keep dates and times of doctors appointments and what happened at these visits. Did you have to take time off of work to go to these doctor appointments?

Medical Bills

The medical bills after a car accident can add up. Make sure to document all medical bills so you can be compensated.

Repair Bills

Save receipts pertaining to the accident such as repair bills for your car.

Phone Calls Pertaining to the Accident

Write down who you spoke with, the times, and what the conversation was about.

How your Injuries have affected your Daily Life

The interruption to your regular, daily life that your injures have caused.

Still Have Questions?

This information is provided as a way to help alleviate stress after an accident, and as a guide on how to organize the information you will need for a possible claim. If you have been in a motor vehicle accident and have questions about next steps, visit our Car Accident FAQ page to read up on the most commonly asked questions we receive from clients, or give us a call for a free consultation about your accident.