Car accidents happen each day, and drivers know the importance of collecting personal information to report to insurance companies.
But in stressful moments like these, it can be easy to overlook the key things you’ll need to protect yourself and obtain compensation for your damages.
Identifying drivers after a car accident is essential to making the insurance claims process easier. Remembering the information you need to gather at the scene is the first step to achieving a resolution and recovering from an automobile collision.
Essential Evidence
In order to identify the drivers involved in a car wreck, you need to collect information related to the involved individuals, automobiles, and insurance providers. These include a driver’s address, phone number, and date of birth.
You should remember to get the name of the insurance provider as well as the policy number of each driver before leaving the scene.
Other information related to the accident must also be noted including the location, date, time, and number of passengers involved. Having the right information speeds up the claims process and makes it easier when communicating with insurance companies.
Driver’s License
A driver’s license includes a person’s home address and license number and is an important document that you should review at the scene of an accident.
You can determine if a driver’s license is expired or suspended after obtaining this information. This can be essential to your insurance claim and help you determine liability for your injury or property damage.
License Plate
A license plate helps you identify other drivers in an accident. License plates must be renewed each year. They provide you and your insurance company with information related to the status of the vehicle and its driver.
Insurance Information
All drivers must carry proof of insurance to protect them and others in the event of an accident. It’s important to obtain a driver’s insurance information at the scene of an accident.
This gives you the contact information with which you can file a claim if the other driver is at fault. But make sure that the insurance is current, as some drivers fail to renew their policies and drive uninsured.
Contact Information
It’s generally not recommended that you contact the other driver directly. Instead, you should speak with their insurance provider when settling your claim.
But you should still collect their contact information in order to verify their identity and have the information ready when you need it. You may also need to provide that information to your own insurance company.
Police Report
The responding police officer will create a report outlining the details of the accident. This report is used by insurance companies to determine who is at fault when settling any claims.
Collect information related to the police officer who created the report such as the officer’s name and badge number. This will help you address any potential issues related to the report and supports your insurance claim.
Witness information should also be collected at the scene along with photographs of the vehicle and any damages or injuries that took place.
There are a number of things you need to consider when involved in an automobile accident. Identifying the driver after a car wreck is essential to filing a successful claim, recovering losses, and achieving a full recovery from injuries.
