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Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer | Accident Attorney


What should I do when I am in an accident?

  • Stop. If you are involved in an accident , you must stop and provide information to others persons who were involved in the accident. Leaving the scene of a serious accident is a crime.
  • Stay Calm.
  • Check for Injuries. Your life and health are more important than damage to a car or vehicle. Not all injuries are immediately obvious or apparent. If anyone appears to be injured, do not move the injured person(s) unless it is absolutely necessary; keep the person(s) lying down, quiet and warm.
  • Seek Proper Medical Attention Immediately. Accurate diagnosis and treatment of your injuries is important. In fact, most emergency room facilities tell patients who have been in an accident that they will usually hurt more the day after an accident than the day of the accident. Some injuries may cause future medical complications which affect your ability to earn a living or perform normal activities. So if in doubt, go to a hospital and get checked out, and encourage anyone else who may be injured to do the same.
  • Call the Police Department. If there is any significant damage to any vehicle or property, call the police immediately. If there are any injuries to any person(s), make sure that the police are notified.
  • Alert Other Drivers that an accident has occurred. Turn on your emergency signals or use another means to let people know that there has been an accident.
  • Exchange Information. Even if there are no injuries, you should exchange information such as:
    • Driver’s name, address, date of birth, telephone number, license plate, driver’s license number, insurance company name and policy number.
    • Vehicle's make, year, model and license plate number.
    • Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any passengers.
    • Write down the names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident. Ask them to stay and talk with the police. If they insist on leaving, make sure you have their contact information and provide this to the investigating police officer. Ask the witness to tell you what they saw and make sure the investigating police officer is aware of this witness.
  • Obtain the names of all police officers at the scene.
  • Ask the investigating officer how to obtain a copy of the police report.
  • Do Not Sign Any Document unless it is for the police or your insurance agent.
  • Notify your insurance agent immediately. Be sure to ask them to file an operator’s crash report (SR21 form). By Indiana law, it is your responsibility to make sure this report is filed within ten days after the accident. Otherwise, your driver’s license may be suspended.
    • As most cell phones now have cameras, take several pictures of how the vehicles appear at the accident scene and how they are positioned on the roadway. Although the person who caused the accident may admit at the scene that they caused the accident and even apologize, they may later change their story.

    • These instructions are general guidelines only.

 

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Auto Accident Resource Links

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
The NHTSA is a government agency dedicated to making American roads safer for travelers.

National Safety Council
The National Safety Council, a nonprofit organization, provides links and articles on topics like seat belt use, safe driving for teenagers and reducing motor vehicle crashes.

US Department of Transportation (DOT)
The Department of Transportation is a federal agency focusing on policy and lawmaking to ensure safer US travel.

MedlinePlus: Motor Vehicle Safety
This Web site, from the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, offers information on preventing motor vehicle crashes, stating that about every 12 minutes, someone in America dies from a motor vehicle accident.

Teen Driver Safety Series
This article, from a car-evaluation Web site, explores the dangers of teen driving and suggests ways of making it safer.

Auto Insurance Information
The Insurance Information Institute answers questions and disseminates information on auto safety, auto insurance, teenage drivers and more.

Drive Defensively
The state of Delaware offers this primer on defensive driving, discussing factors such as weather, speed limits and parked vehicles.

Nine Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs
The Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) provides information on steps you can take to obtain a lower auto insurance rate.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety / Highway Loss Data Institute
These organizations focus on studying and preventing highway motor vehicle accidents.
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