10 Actions to Take at Auto Accident Scene in Pennsylvania

Don’t let the stress an auto accident cause you to forget what to do. Here are 10 tips:

1. Once it is safe to do so, stop your vehicle away from traffic, and turn it off. If possible, do not block traffic. Try to get out the line of traffic. Try to provide a warning to any oncoming traffic by using hazard lights, flares, and the hood or trunk of your car.
2. Stay at the scene of accident until the police arrive. Under PA law, you must remain at the scene of an auto accident if injury or severe property damage has occurred.
3. Contact the police. If the other driver tries to talk you out of contacting the police, ingnore them.
4. If you are not injured, help others who are injured.
5. Make sure that someone calls for an amubulance if anyone is injured.
6. If you are injured, find a safe place to rest and wait for the ambulance to arrive. Accept treatment if you are injured. Permit the medical providers to provide treatment.
7. Stay calm, cool, and collected. Don’t confront the other driver. There will be plenty of time later to determine what happened and who is at fault. NEVER ADMIT FAULT! What you say right at the scene of an accident is an admission.
8. When the other driver says it was their fault, be sure to write this down in the exact words that they used.
9. When the police arrive, be coopeartive. If you are injured, this is not the time to describe how the accident occurred. Instead get medical treatment. Offer to meet with the police at a later time to describe what happened. Obtain in writing the name, address, license plate number, and insurance information for each vehicle and driver. Identify witnesses and obtain their name, address and phone number.
10. Take pictures of the scene, all vehicles, the location where the accident occurred, traffic lights, streets, traffic signs, skids, and physical objects poles, posts, and guard rails. If you can take a video on your phone, do so. If you are unable to, see if someone else can do this for you.