A PRACTICAL ACCIDENT ORGANIZER

Your detailed accident
documentation checklist.

60 useful tasks, explanations and printable record sheets to help you organize what happened and prepare your questions.

0 of 60 tasks marked

01Safety and immediate needs

Start here if the accident just happened. Skip any task that cannot be done safely.

Address immediate dangerCall 911 for an emergency. Do not remain in traffic, approach an unstable vehicle or reenter a dangerous scene to gather documents.Arrange appropriate medical attentionGet medical help when needed. This checklist does not assess symptoms or replace a clinician’s advice.Record the responding agencyNote the police or emergency agency, officer name if available, and incident or report number. Keep any information sheet provided.Document where your vehicle wentKeep the tow company, storage facility, destination and contact details. Save receipts and written storage or release information.Identify an immediate practical needArrange a safe way home and necessary help for dependents. Record accident-related out-of-pocket costs without assuming they will be reimbursed.Separate urgent tasks from later paperworkDo not wait to obtain care or address danger because this checklist is incomplete. Return to records when you can safely do so.

02Your account of the accident

Write facts while they are fresh. Mark uncertainty clearly rather than guessing.

Record date, time and locationInclude the intersection, roadway, direction of travel or nearby landmark. Label an approximate time as approximate.Describe the sequence in orderWrite what happened immediately before, during and after the collision. Separate your observations from statements made by other people.Note conditions you actually observedRecord weather, visibility, road surface, lanes and signals only to the extent you remember them. Do not recreate missing details as facts.Identify vehicles and occupantsList available names and contact details, vehicle descriptions and plates. Keep identification documents secure rather than posting them online.Record relevant conversations accuratelyNote who spoke, when and what you remember. Use quotation marks only if you recall the actual words; otherwise label the entry as a summary.Keep the original account and later correctionsDate additions or corrections instead of silently rewriting the first version. Tell your attorney about earlier statements you gave.

03Photographs video and witnesses

Preserve originals and document where information came from.

Save original photographs and videoKeep original files as well as a backup. Avoid editing, overwriting or discarding originals; work from copies if you need to annotate an image.Organize available scene imagesGroup images of vehicle damage, plates, road layout, signs and relevant conditions. Do not return to a dangerous location for missing photographs.Record witness contact informationKeep names, phone numbers or other available contact details. Note what each person says they saw without coaching a statement.Identify possible camerasNote nearby businesses, residences, traffic cameras or dashcams and the relevant time window. Tell counsel promptly; do not assume footage exists or remains available.Protect evidence you already controlBack up dashcam footage and relevant messages without changing the originals. Do not access another person’s devices, accounts or property.List missing records for discussionExamples include a report, footage or additional photographs. Ask an attorney about lawful preservation and access rather than assuming a request will secure them.

04Insurance documents and communications

Keep each insurer and claim separate so requests do not get mixed together.

Gather your accident-date policy documentsSave declarations, policy terms, endorsements and any relevant coverage rejection forms you have. A shorthand phrase such as full coverage does not identify the terms.Create a separate contact sheet for each claimRecord the company, whose policy is involved, claim number, adjuster, phone and email. Keep property-damage and injury claim references distinct.Record reporting and notification datesKeep confirmation of when you notified an insurer. Ask about applicable policy obligations if unclear; do not use this checklist to decide that no notice is required.Maintain a communication logFor every call or email, record the date, person, subject and promised next step. Keep the written correspondence alongside your notes.Save requests recordings and authorizationsKeep copies of forms you are asked to sign and statements you provided. Discuss questions about recordings or authorizations with counsel while attending to any applicable obligations.Preserve offers denials and stated deadlinesSave the full documents and envelopes or electronic delivery information. Flag any response date for attorney review; do not calculate legal deadlines with this checklist.

05Treatment and medical billing records

Keep this information private. The purpose is accurate organization, not self-diagnosis.

List providers and visit datesInclude available emergency, hospital, primary-care and other treatment information. Follow appropriate clinical guidance for treatment decisions.Keep visit instructions and referralsOrganize discharge papers, referral information and follow-up instructions. Discuss medical questions with the treating clinician.Record symptoms and limitations factuallyDate brief observations in your own words. Distinguish a symptom you experience from a diagnosis made by a clinician; do not exaggerate or fill gaps.Match bills with insurance explanationsKeep itemized statements, explanations of benefits, adjustments and payment receipts together. Flag duplicate-looking bills for clarification.Track outstanding balances and noticesList provider, service date, billed amount, payments and current stated balance. Save collection or reimbursement correspondence for review.Prepare a secure sharing planAsk the attorney how to send medical records. Do not place diagnoses, records or sensitive identifiers in a public comment, advertising form or unsecured shared folder.

06Missed work expenses and daily impact

Document actual changes and costs. Keeping a record does not establish that an item is recoverable.

Record missed work dates and hoursSeparate full days, reduced hours and leave used. Keep the relevant schedule or attendance records if available.Keep income documentationSave applicable pay statements, employer verification and other records of earnings. Self-employed people can discuss appropriate business records with counsel.Organize employer communicationsKeep notices about absences, restrictions or schedule changes. Do not ask anyone to create a false or inflated statement.Keep accident-related receiptsExamples may include transportation, parking, prescriptions or assistance. Record the date and reason, and distinguish paid expenses from estimates.Describe concrete effects on daily activitiesUse dated examples of tasks you could not do or needed help with. Avoid relying only on a general statement that everything changed.Record assistance actually receivedNote the task, date and whether help was paid or unpaid. Ask counsel what supporting documentation may be useful.

07Vehicle damage towing and repairs

Coordinate practical decisions with the relevant insurer, repair provider and attorney when needed.

Save inspection and repair recordsKeep photographs, estimates, inspection notes and correspondence. Make clear whether an amount is an estimate or an actual charge.Document tow and storage chargesRecord location, daily charges if provided, release requirements and notices. Address accumulating charges promptly through the appropriate contacts.Keep rental and transportation paperworkSave agreements, receipts, coverage discussions and return dates. Do not assume a rental is covered indefinitely.Preserve information before major changesAsk counsel promptly whether inspection or preservation is needed before disposal or major alteration. Do not let this checklist delay a necessary safety decision.Organize ownership and financing documentsKeep title or ownership information, loan or lease details and relevant lender correspondence in a secure place.Read proposed releases carefullyIdentify whether a document resolves property damage, injury claims or both. Ask counsel about the scope before making a decision you do not understand.

08Additional items for a commercial truck collision

Use this section when relevant. It identifies questions to discuss, not a complete trucking investigation.

Record tractor and trailer identifiers separatelyUse available photographs of plates, vehicle numbers, company names and markings. A displayed name is a lead to verify, not proof of responsibility.Note available carrier identifiersIf visible in existing images, note DOT or other identifying numbers and where they appeared. Do not approach a truck in an unsafe location to obtain them.List potentially involved businessesRecord names shown on the tractor, trailer, cargo documents or correspondence you already have. Counsel can investigate relationships rather than assuming ownership.Flag potentially time-sensitive electronic recordsDiscuss possible dashcam, dispatch, vehicle-data or other records promptly. Their existence, retention and availability depend on the circumstances.Identify inspection or preservation questionsAsk counsel about the vehicles, relevant maintenance information and other potentially useful material before assuming what must be obtained.Keep all claim contacts togetherRecord communications from drivers, carriers and insurers, including who they say they represent. Do not confuse contact with one company with review of every possible claim.

09Additional items for an uninsured driver or hit-and-run

Coverage needs the actual policy and facts. This section does not determine eligibility.

Record the basis for the insurance concernKeep the message or document saying coverage is absent, insufficient or disputed. Distinguish a confirmed denial from something said at the scene.Collect UM UIM PIP and MedPay informationGather relevant policy documents and written rejection forms if available. Ask counsel which coverages and policies need review.Preserve hit-and-run observationsRecord the vehicle description, direction, witnesses and available video. Clearly mark anything you do not know; do not guess identifying information.Keep reporting recordsSave police and insurer report information and notification confirmations. Ask about policy-specific requirements promptly.Save written coverage explanationsKeep the insurer’s stated policy basis, requests and deadlines. Discuss coverage questions without assuming that one denial resolves every potential source.Flag proposed settlements for reviewTell counsel about any offer or release involving another party or insurer. Ask about effects on other potential claims before deciding.

10Prepare for an attorney consultation

You do not need every item to seek advice. A compact overview helps the first conversation.

Prepare a one-page overviewInclude date, location, people involved, a brief factual sequence, current treatment and your three main questions.List prior representation and pending mattersTell the attorney if you already have counsel, a lawsuit is pending or you have signed any agreement related to the accident.Flag urgent documents at the startMention court papers, written response dates, notices and proposed releases promptly. Do not wait to finish this checklist before getting them reviewed.Ask about representation and costsDiscuss scope, communication, fees, expenses and how an engagement would begin. Do not assume that a website visit or initial call means the firm represents you.Ask how records should be sharedConfirm the secure channel, who needs access and what is useful initially. Do not send an entire sensitive file through an unsecured link.Confirm the agreed next stepWrite down who will do what and when you should follow up. An inquiry is not attorney acceptance; obtain clarity about representation.

PRINTABLE RECORD SHEETS

Keep the details together.

Print these sheets to make your own notes. They are blank worksheets, not forms submitted to the firm. Keep completed copies in a private place.

Insurance communication log

Date	Company and contact	Request or discussion	Next step

Expense record

Date	Item and reason	Amount paid	Receipt location

Documents to find

Document	Who may have it	Date requested	Status

Questions for your consultation

Which records are missing? What needs prompt review? What are the next steps, fees and communication arrangements?