What Information Should I Collect After an Accident?
Good documentation creates a clear record for the claim and repair process—but safety always comes before taking photographs or collecting evidence.
Short answer
Once everyone is safe, collect the information needed to identify the drivers, vehicles and insurance involved, then document the scene and visible damage when it is safe to do so. In New York, drivers in a property-damage crash must exchange driver-license, insurance and registration information. Keep photographs, police information, claim details and repair documents together so you are not reconstructing the accident from memory later.
Start with people and safety—not photographs
Do not stand in moving traffic, remain in an unsafe vehicle or put yourself in another dangerous position just to document the crash. If anyone may be injured or there is immediate danger, emergency response comes first.
Once the scene is reasonably safe, the goal is to preserve factual information that will be useful later.
Information to exchange with the other driver
New York DMV states that even when a crash involves property damage only, drivers must exchange driver-license, insurance and registration information.
- Driver's full name and contact information
- Driver-license information
- Vehicle registration information
- License plate number
- Insurance company and policy information available at the scene
- Vehicle year, make and model when readily identifiable
Photographs worth taking
Take photographs that explain both the damage and the surroundings. Wide photographs provide context; closer photographs preserve visible details.
- All sides of the vehicles involved
- Closer views of visible impact damage
- License plates
- Vehicle positions when they can be photographed safely
- Traffic signals, signs, lane markings and roadway conditions
- Debris or fluid on the roadway when relevant and safe to photograph
- Any pre-existing damage you may later need to distinguish from the collision
Record details that are easy to forget
Write down the date, approximate time, location and basic sequence of events while the details are fresh. If there are witnesses who voluntarily provide contact information, preserve that information with the rest of your accident records.
If police respond, keep the agency name, incident or report information you are given and instructions for obtaining a copy of the crash report.
New York crash-report requirements are separate from your insurance claim
New York requires a motorist crash report in specified circumstances, including a crash involving a fatality or personal injury or more than $1,000 in damage to the property of any one person. DMV states that the required report generally must be filed within 10 days.
Reporting the loss to an insurance company does not substitute for a required New York MV-104 crash report.
Create one claim-and-repair folder
Keep the claim number, adjuster contact, photographs, police information, estimates, tow documents, repair authorizations, supplement information and repair invoices together. A simple digital folder on your phone or computer can prevent a great deal of confusion later.
Keep the original files when possible rather than repeatedly editing or compressing photographs and documents.
Focus on facts, not an argument at the scene
You do not need to solve fault, coverage or repair cost while standing at the accident scene. Record what happened as accurately as you can, exchange the required information and allow the later claim process to address the questions that require investigation.
Key takeaways
Safety comes before photographs or evidence collection.
Exchange and retain the driver, insurance and registration information required after the crash.
Use both wide scene photographs and closer damage photographs when it is safe.
Keep police, claim and repair information together in one organized record.
Where this information comes from
Where a topic depends on New York law, insurance rules or vehicle-safety information, we point to authoritative sources so you can verify the underlying guidance.
This resource provides general consumer information and is not legal advice. Insurance coverage, claim circumstances, repair requirements and vehicle condition vary.
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