What To Do In Case Of An Auto Accident
What These Words Mean
Scene - The place where the accident happened.
Witness - A person who saw the accident happen.
Keep this brochure with a pencil and paper and your insurance card in your car.
Stop At The Scene
You cannot drive away from an accident. You must stay until you have given your name and address to a police officer or the other driver.
Get Help For The Injured
Call 911 or "0" on a telephone or ask someone to call for you. Do not try to move an injured person.
Give Warnings
Ask another person to volunteer to wave to other cars to warn them of the accident. Use lights or a flashlight at night to warn other cars.
Tell A Police Officer
Tell a police officer, a county sheriff or the Missouri Highway Patrol that you had an accident. The police report can help you later if you forget facts.
Give them your name and address and show them your driver's license and your insurance card. This is all you must do to obey Missouri law.
You do not need to tell any person, other than a police officer, how you think the accident happened. You may learn later that you did not do anything wrong. You should not sign any papers at the scene except the agreement to appear in court if asked by an officer.
Get Witnesses' Names, Addresses, and Phone Numbers
Ask all witnesses to write down their names, addresses and telephone numbers.
Write answers to questions on a blank page in this booklet. Draw a picture of the accident scene, also.
Get Insurance Information
Be sure to have your insurance card ready. Write down the information found on the insurance card of the other driver, and allow him or her to write down the information found on your card.
Towing
If you cannot drive your car, you must have it moved from the scene. If the police officer calls a tow truck, you should ask how much it will cost, tell the tow driver where to take your car, and ask for his name, address and telephone number if you do not go with him.
Call Insurance Agent
If the police report filed in connection with the accident indicates that you were at fault, you will want to contact your insurance company as soon as possible. However, if another party is listed as being at fault, you will only want to contact the other party’s insurance company. To inform your insurance company of an accident that is not your fault could result in an increase in your rates and /or a decrease in available coverage for you
See A Doctor
You may not know if you are hurt because you may be upset. It is a good idea to see a doctor.
Call A Lawyer
Talk to a lawyer before talking to anyone else about the accident. A lawyer knows how to help you.
Missouri Accident Reports
It is Missouri law that you must file a written report with the Department of Revenue if these things happen:
- Either car has $500 damage or a person was injured;
- The accident was on a public street or highway; or
- A driver does not have insurance.
You can get forms from a police department, your insurance company, or your lawyer.
Pay Nothing
Do not pay anyone money unless your lawyer tells you to pay.
For Legal Advice See Your Lawyer
For legal advice see your lawyer. If you need help finding a lawyer call the Missouri Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 573/636-3635.
In St. Louis call 314/621-6681
In Kansas City call 816/221-9472
In Springfield call 417/831-2783
Accident Information Form
Fill Out This Form at the Scene of the Accident
THE OTHER DRIVER AND HIS CAR
Name of other driver _________________________________________
Street address ______________________________________________
City ___________________________________________ State _______
Vehicle registration (car license) number __________________________
Make and type of car ___________________________ year __________
Number of driver's license of other driver __________________________
Has he apparently been drinking? ________________________________
Any verbal statements made by other driver as to cause of accident?
_____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
NAMES AND ADDRESS OF PASSENGERS IN OTHER CAR
Name ______________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________
Name ______________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________
Name ______________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF ALL POSSIBLE WITNESSES TO ANY FACT
Name ______________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________
Name _____________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________
Name _____________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________
SPECIAL CONDITIONS TO NOTE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ACCIDENT
Position of your car after accident _______________________________
___________________________________________________________
Position of other car after accident _______________________________
____________________________________________________________
Location of any tire marks, blood, broken glass, dirt, etc. on road or side
of road ____________________________________________________
Location of point of impact in relation to center of road or some physical
object _____________________________________________________
Did your car skid — if so, how many feet? ________________________
Did other car skid — if so, how many feet? ________________________
Road conditions ____________________________________________
Traffic conditions ___________________________________________
Weather conditions __________________________________________
Traffic controls (traffic lights, stop signs, etc.) ______________________
Place of impact on other car ___________________________________
Name and address of any wrecker that removes other car ___________
______________________________________________________________
Other conditions that might have bearing on accident _______________
______________________________________________________________
THE FOLLOWING MAY BE FILLED OUT EITHER AT THE SCENE OR SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE SCENE
Date of Accident ________________________ Time _______________
Location of Accident __________________________________________
Type of road (grade, curve, etc.) _________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Speed of your car just before accident ____________________________
Speed of other car just before accident ___________________________
Direction of your car __________________________________________
Direction of other car __________________________________________
Were you or other driver turning? ________________________________
Did other driver signal properly (with arm, horn, lights, etc.)? ___________
If at night, were his lights burning? ________________________________
How far were you from other car when you first saw it? _______________
Other pertinent facts __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________