After a car accident a ton of things are probably going though your mind. Emotions are racing as you try to figure out what just happened, why it just happened and what you are going to do next. What the insurance company will need to properly judge your case is probably not one of those thoughts flying all over the place. But unfortunately, it should be. Individuals get burned by insurance companies after car accidents all the time because they fail to think on their toes and get all of the relevant information that they need for a complete claim.

It is understandable that you may feel too upset after an accident to think about insurance, but if you are prepared prior to an accident you can go through the proper procedures without much fore thought.

After you find out whether anyone involved in crash has been injured and you have called the police and they are on their way, start doing the following:

• Pull all of your insurance information and any other documents that would be relevant from your glove box. It is important to always be prepared in case of an accident. Part of this preparation is collecting documents and putting them together neatly into a flat purse or small folder that is then placed in the glove compartment or under a seat for easy access.

• Exchange the information in your folder with the driver of the other car involved. Make sure to get his or her license, insurance information, license plate number, etc as soon as possible so the driver can not drive off the scene unidentified.

• Collect information from the scene of the car crash. Try to remember everything that happened prior to the crash and after the crash if you can. Then look for witnesses that may be able to provide the police with an accurate description of what happened during the crash. Ask them if they would be willing to stay until the police arrive so they can give their account of the accident. After witnesses have been secured, take pictures of every angle of the cars involved in the crash before they are moved. If you do not have a camera on you, use a cell phone camera or ask someone near by if they have a camera or cell phone.

• Call your insurance company.

For more information on gathering information after a car accident, contact Racine area attorneys.