Often times, when people get in accidents, they are either too injured or too surprised to document everything that has happened, which can come back to bite you later. Print this handy list, keep it in the glove compartment and you’re ready to go!

1. Call the police and insist they make a police report! Often times people think their damage is too small to have a personal injury case, or that it’s not worth the hassle or the insurance premium boost, but trust me, once your neck and back start hurting and your chiropractic bills are piling up, you’ll be glad you have this evidence that it’s the other guy’s fault. So will your lawyer!
2. Take photos of the scene, your injuries, the damage to your vehicle. Camera cell phones are especially good for this. If you were unable to take the photos at the accident scene, take pictures later.
3. Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses on the scene. Insurance companies love to dispute that their insured was at fault, so it is imperative that witnesses are present to report the truth.
4. Never, NEVER sign anything or give a statement to an insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Even truthful statements made in an attempt to be helpful can easily be misinterpreted and turned against you later.
5. Seek medical attention and tell your physician or surgeon exactly how the injury occurred and describe all symptoms and complaints. Nothing is more important than your health.
6. This last one is obvious, but make sure you get the other drivers’ name, phone number, address, insurance information, and vehicle license plate number, even if the police have already done so.
7. Check out reviews by real people on review sites like Citysearch and Yelp.com when you’re researching attorneys. The best advice comes from your peers!