What Information Should I Provide After a Car Accident?

If you’ve never been involved in a car accident, you may be unsure about what information you are required to provide to other drivers after a crash. In this article, we’ll discuss requirements under Georgia law, as well as a few things you should and shouldn’t say, even if the other driver or their insurance company start asking for information.

State law in Georgia mandates that drivers involved in wrecks are required to stop and provide specific information to the other drivers and law enforcement. The information you collect from the other driver or drivers at the scene is crucial to any insurance or property claims that you will need to file after the crash. If you’ve been hurt, or if your vehicle was damaged or totaled, your attorney and the other driver’s insurance company will need specific information to process the claim.

Information You Are Required to Provide

Georgia Code § 40-6-270, says that if you are a driver of a vehicle and you are in an accident, where any injuries were caused, to include death, or damage to another vehicle, you must stop immediately or as close to the scene of the accident as possible.

The driver is required to provide the following information:

• The person’s name
• The person’s address
• The registration number of the vehicle they are driving

The same statute also establishes that a driver should provide their driver’s license upon request. Additionally, drivers are expected to render aid to any injured person and ensure that emergency medical services and local law enforcement are contacted.

What Information Should I Ask for?

You should ask other drivers for all of the same information that you are expected to give. You should be sure to ask the other driver to show their driver’s license, simply to ensure that they’ve given you their real name.

You should also request the other driver’s insurance information, including the policy number. Additional contact info, such as a phone number and email address, may also come in handy.

Consider using your phone’s camera to snap pictures of information such as:

• Driver’s licenses
• Vehicle registrations
• Insurance cards
• License plates
• Vehicle identification numbers (VINs or serial numbers)

When Do You Call the Police?

It is a good idea to contact law enforcement as soon as possible following any crash, even if no one seems to be injured.

Not all accidents necessarily require police involvement. Minor fender benders that result in no injuries and minimal damage might not need police reports.

Still, it is a good idea to alert authorities in the event of a collision so that they can conduct a thorough investigation. Police reports are often a vital piece of evidence that could go a long way in ensuring that the at-fault party pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and damage to your vehicle after an accident.

What Happens If the Other Driver Doesn’t Have the Required Information?

Some drivers may not be operating their vehicles in compliance with the law. Some may not have insurance coverage or even a valid driver’s license. In these cases, it becomes even more critical to contact police. If a driver is illegally refusing to provide the required information, they may be more compliant when they are asked to do so by a law enforcement officer.

At The Champion Firm, our Marietta car accident attorneys represent accident victims in and around metro Atlanta and surrounding areas. We bring a personal touch to personal injury claims. Call us or schedule an appointment online for a free consultation with us today.