Checklists

Accident Scene Checklist

Published 2026-08-02 • Updated 2026-08-28 • Reviewed by 365 DataSolutions Content Review

This article is general information only. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Use this as a general reference. Safety and emergency assistance always come before documentation.

Safety

• Are you and your passengers able to move safely?
• Is the vehicle out of active traffic, with hazard lights on?
• Have emergency services been contacted if anyone may be hurt?

People

• Names and phone numbers of every driver involved
• Insurance company name and policy holder name for each vehicle
• Names and phone numbers of passengers
• Names and phone numbers of witnesses

Vehicles and scene

• License plate of each vehicle
• Make, model, and color of each vehicle
• Photos of damage on all vehicles, close and wide
• Photos of the intersection, lane markings, signals, and signs
• Time of day, weather, and road conditions

Official record

• Responding agency name
• Officer name or badge number if provided
• Report or incident number if provided

Afterward

• Save every photo to a single album
• Write a short note about what you remember while it is fresh
• Keep receipts and correspondence in one folder