Accident Prevention & Post-Accident Checklist

Download a printable version of this checklist to share with the other drivers in your family. Encourage everyone in your family to keep a copy of the checklists in the glove box or above the visor; it may help your loved ones avoid being injured in a wreck, and will help them know what to do if they are ever in a wreck.

Before You Get In The Car

  1. Make a healthy decision. Make sure you are well rested and not impaired by alcohol or medication.
  2. Review your car’s equipment. Adjust the mirrors, seat and other controls so you are in full control of the car.
  3. Use your seatbelt! Seatbelts keep you in the car. People thrown from a car quickly become fatalities.
  4. Turn on the car’s lights. Lights not only enable us to see where we are going, they make our car easier for others to see.
  5. Study your route. Know where you are going before you start your journey. Fumbling with maps or even sophisticated navigation systems distracts us from the task of driving.
  6. Never use your cell phone. Studies show that even hands-free speakerphones divert much of our attention from the road.
  7. Always pay attention. Eliminate as many distractions as possible. Pull over to deal with a crying child or an upset pet.
  8. Pack safety tools. Keep a First Aid kit, cold weather survival items and disposable camera in your trunk or glove box.

If you are in a collision

  1. Help the injured first. Make sure you and your passengers obtain appropriate medical care as soon as possible.
  2. Call 9-1-1. Speak with emergency workers so they can send ambulance, police and other necessary emergency services.
  3. Move working vehicle off road. If your car is still driveable, move it well off the road onto the shoulder or next to the curb.
  4. Report what happened to the Police. Tell the responding Officer or Patrolman your observation of the crash.
  5. Gather witness information. Get the name, address and telephone number of any witness to the crash.
  6. Gather driver’s information. Get the other driver’s name, address and insurance company information.
  7. Take some pictures. Photograph the other driver and their car, including the car’s license plate.
  8. Maintain confidentiality. DO NOT provide a written or tape recorded statement to any insurance adjuster who represents the other driver who caused the collision.
  9. Call Paul at the Brosnahan Law Firm ASAP! Call us as soon as possible so our investigators can collect and preserve the evidence you will need to win your case.