Car accidents are part of life’s eventualities due to minor distractions, recklessness, and negligence. It usually leaves victims confused, distorted, and unsure of the next step. If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Sarasota, the first thing to do is seek medical attention for your injuries. Another crucial thing is to contact the best car accident attorney in Sarasota to handle all the legal processes and help you get justice for your injuries. However, before the justice process can begin, you need to have the information of the other drivers involved in the car accident. Even if you think you know for sure who is liable, it’s still good practice to get the other driver’s details and contact information.
Keeping good records from the moment the accident occurs will help you handle insurance companies and make claims for loss of property and personal injury.
Important Information To Exchange After A Car Accident
Names
Firstly, you need the full names of everyone involved in the car accident. Get the first, middle, and last names of the other drivers, passengers, and eyewitnesses. Make sure to write the names correctly on your writing pad or your phone’s notepad. If you can’t spell the names correctly, ask the person to spell out their names. If the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, you should ask for the name and contact information of the original car owner.
Contact Information
This includes each person’s phone numbers, home, office, and email addresses. The email and home/office addresses are crucial because they’ll be needed when serving court documents as the lawsuit or compensation process progresses. In addition, endeavor to ask and take note of each person’s contact preference. Some people may prefer phone calls, and others could prefer emails.
Vehicle Information
You need vehicle information such as vehicle identification number, chassis number, license plate number, car model, color, and other descriptive information of the car. The vehicle identification number is one of the most precise ways to know the real and lawful car owner. Also, you can request the driver’s license number of the at-fault driver. Most at-fault drivers are usually reluctant to provide their license number, but you can write down the number when you request to check the correct spelling of their names to ensure they match the name on their driver’s license.
However, sometimes, the at-fault driver might feel uncomfortable and leave the accident scene. If this occurs, it could make the compensation process a little difficult. For a case like this, further investigation will be done to locate the driver. If you’re a victim of a hit-and-run, you’ll need to provide information such as the color of the car, the year, the make, and the model of the car. You’ll also need to give a description of the driver.
Insurance Information
Insurance information is vital when filing for compensation; therefore, you must get this information from the at-fault driver. You’ll need information about the insurance carrier and insurance policy number. This insurance information is usually printed on the vehicle owner’s insurance card, so a simple way to get this information is to ask for the driver’s vehicle owner’s insurance card.
If the person who drove the car isn’t the car owner, don’t hesitate to ask for the contact information of the car owner. If you don’t get detailed insurance information, filing a third-party claim for personal injuries and damages will be difficult.
Other Necessary Information To Gather After A Car Accident
Pictures and Videos
If you’ve been involved in an accident due to negligence, you’ll need all the necessary information to help build a strong case. In addition to the information about the at-fault driver, you should make an effort to take pictures of the accident scene. Take pictures of damaged properties such as cars, phones, laptops, and others. If possible, you should also record the scenes of the accident. In addition, be sure to take pictures of your injuries and torn clothes.
Medical bills
Endeavor to keep a record of all the medical expenses that result from the accident. Your medical bills should include x-ray bills, medication bills, and other related expenses.
In conclusion, car accidents can destabilize victims; nevertheless, it’s vital to have information about the other people involved in the car accident. All the information you gather at the scene of the accident will significantly help your claiming process either from your insurance company or the other driver’s insurance company.
