A transcript, lightly edited for readability, of a Real Life Law segment from Gardiner Koch Weisberg & Wrona, originally broadcast on 96.1 WLKG in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Transcript
I’ve been asked what you should do when you’re in a car accident. That’s actually changed over time. When I started practicing, people would take notes. Today, one of the most important things you can do is take pictures of the scene, the condition of the vehicles and things like that. In a typical accident, the police aren’t going to take those pictures for you.
You also want other information: the other driver’s name, their insurance coverage, exactly where the accident happened, and a quick memory of how it occurred. You can’t count on the police to include all of that. In a serious accident, much or all of it will be in the report, but for minor accidents, or when the police are called away to another scene, you may not get it from them.
When the police interview you at the scene, tell them what happened. Be truthful, be accurate and be specific. If you didn’t cause the accident, say so, and explain how it happened. If you can, observe the other driver and whether they seem to have their faculties about them, whether they’re having trouble walking, for example, because a high percentage of accidents involve some level of intoxication.
After you’ve gathered this information, assuming you’re in a condition to do so, the next step is to evaluate fault and talk to a lawyer. We’ll cover that in another segment.
This segment is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Laws change, and every case depends on its facts. To talk with an attorney, call (312) 362-0000 in Illinois or (262) 812-0864 in Wisconsin, or send us a message.
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