Personal Injury FAQ
What to do after an Auto Accident

What information should I obtain after an accident?
Should I call the police?
When should I contact an attorney?
Should I contact my own insurance company?
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company? What if they call me?
Should I go to the doctor
Is there anything special I should tell my doctors?
Do I need to take pictures of the accident scene?
Do I have to take photos right away or can I wait?
What about preserving other evidence besides photos?

Do I have to take photos right away or can I wait?
It is very important to take photos as close as possible to the time of the accident. This is particularly important when it is necessary to photograph "impending" skid marks. Tires do not immediately lock-up and change from rolling tires to skidding tires. During the braking process, a tire begins to leave an imprint on the roadway before actually skidding. These marks are "impending" skid marks and are faint marks that can normally be seen on the roadway for only 24 to 48 hours after a collision. An impending skid and a skid mark, when taken together, give a more accurate record of the actual speed of a car before braking. Lay a shoe or other easily measured item next to impending skid marks while photographing them so an accident reconstructionist can later compute actual distances based on the photographs.