As city officials ramp up their efforts to significant curb traffic-related fatalities, the president of the 112th Precinct Community Council, Heidi Harrison Chain, has compiled a list of crucial information for anyone involved in a car accident.
The following are the steps the council said one should take if a vehicular accident has occurred:
1. Determine if anyone needs medical assistance. If so, call 911 and report the accident and the injuries. If you call 911 you should be able to tell the operator your location, the number of people who are injured. This will enable our first responders to have the resources for the number of people who need help.
In the event that someone is injured or killed, state law requires you to notify the police.
2. Determine if the cars can be moved to the side of the road. This is very important to avoid the possibility of another accident while you are exchanging information with the driver of the other vehicle.
If you cannot move your vehicle because of the damage to your car, then do not stay inside—but be sure that you go to the side of the road, and put the flashers on your cars.
3. Stay at the scene. Whether or not the accident is your fault, you must not leave the scene of an accident. You must then exchange information with the driver of the other vehicle(s).
4. If anyone has indicated that they witnessed the accident, you should obtain their name, address and phone number immediately. You should give this information to the police when they arrive to take a report.
5. Get further information. As you may need this information later for the reporting requirements—you may want to record the following information: where the accident occurred, the time of the day, the weather conditions, any road conditions, if there is a traffic light or stop sign at the location, and what you think happened. You will also be asked to report on the direction that each vehicle was going prior to the accident.
6. Notify your insurance company of the accident.
7. If someone has been injured, killed, or if the property damage is more than $1,000, you must file an accident report with the state Department of Motor Vehicles. This is regardless of whether you have filed a report with your local police department.
