Francis A. Pommett Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

The last thing anyone really wants to do in a car accident is to bother with paperwork.  The sad fact is that taking notes is a key component to getting the compensation you deserve from your claim.  In Maryland, you are required by law to provide your information to the other driver as well as any passengers affected by the crash.  They also have to provide you the same information as well.

Much of the information that you need is already provided for you on the documents that drivers typically carry (license, registration, and insurance).  These include:

• License information - The other driver's name, contact information including telephone and address, date of birth, license #, and expiration date;
• Vehicle information - Using the registration card you can obtain the car's vehicle ID, make and model, year, license plate number, and expiration date;
• Insurance - Name, address, phone number, and insurance company of the owner of car.

There are a few other things you should also be proactive about writing down.  This includes a Baltimore auto accidents diagram, detailing the positions of both vehicles before, during, and after the accident.  If you have a camera or camera phone, photos can be extremely helpful down the road.  Note positions of crosswalks, traffic lights, stop signs, and streetlights.  The condition of a roadway is an important detail to also note as sometimes this may play a role in the resulting collision.  When the police officer arrives, ask for his name and badge number as well as how you can get a copy of the police report.

Along with the information above, you should also try to identify witnesses at the accident scene even if they won't share their names.  Obtaining their license number will help you track them down in the event they are needed to be summoned for a court case.  If they are willing to stick around for the police and share their names, get their contact information.  Write down what they saw, and if needed you can always consult a lawyer who'd be helpful in calling them for their statements.

If you have been injured in your auto accident, take pictures of your injuries for purposes of documentation.  Sometimes injuries are internal so make sure to see a doctor, who may advise you to get x-rays if necessary.

You've just had a car accident - don't get more injuries! When you are taking notes, make sure you are careful of where you are situated. If you are in a highway or dangerous intersection take extra caution if you are trying to get photos or a better viewpoint for your diagram.

Article From:

Nathanson & Pommett, P.C.
110 E. Lexington Street, Suite 200,
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Phone: 410-685-0888