After a collision, it can help to bring the people, vehicle, scene, treatment, and insurance information together in one timeline. Jody D. Peterman, LLC offers car accident representation and describes its service as statewide in Georgia. Counsel can assess the information you have and the questions about your matter.
Start with the people and the sequence of events
Write down who was in each vehicle and what you remember about the collision, in chronological order. Include the location, direction of travel, and any details that may help explain how events unfolded. Keep observations separate from later conclusions, and note when you are uncertain.
Gather scene and vehicle photographs, along with any available account of the collision. A simple chronology can help counsel understand what information is available and identify questions to assess. Keep original materials where possible and note when and how photographs or other records were obtained.
Official resources: Car accident practice
Organize vehicle, treatment, and insurance information
Collect photographs of vehicle damage and any documents you have about the vehicle or repairs. If more than one vehicle was involved, organize materials by vehicle so that the source of each image or document is clear.
Keep treatment-related records and insurance correspondence together, including communications you have received or sent. A dated list of appointments, correspondence, and other key events can help counsel assess the matter. This is general preparation, not a determination of what any particular claim requires.
Official resources: Car accident practice
Bring what you have
- List the occupants of each vehicle and your recollection of the collision in chronological order.
- Gather scene photographs and note when or how they were obtained.
- Organize vehicle photographs and documents by vehicle.
- Collect treatment-related records and make a dated list of relevant events.
- Keep insurance correspondence together, including messages sent and received.
- Identify whether a record request concerns Savannah city options or records held by Georgia DPS.
- Keep any records received with the other collision materials for counsel to assess.
Request records from the office that holds them
Savannah’s official Open Records Information page links a city-wide general public-records request form and separately describes Savannah Police Department and Savannah Fire Rescue request options on that form. Consider which city record or department is relevant before making a request; a city request is distinct from a Georgia DPS request.
Georgia DPS publishes an open-records process for records held by DPS, including crash and incident records and Georgia State Patrol reports. The agency holding a record matters: a DPS process concerns DPS-held records, while Savannah’s page describes city request options. Organize any response with your other collision materials.
Official resources: Savannah open records information; Georgia DPS crash and incident records
Discuss the matter with a Georgia car accident firm
Jody D. Peterman, LLC offers car accident representation and describes service throughout Georgia. The firm lists its office at 304 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601, and telephone 888-599-9052.
Savannah is listed in Chatham County in the official 2020 Census place-by-county file. That geographic listing does not determine where an individual matter belongs. Counsel can assess the facts and available records for your situation.
Official resources: Car accident practice; Firm contact information; 2020 Census place and county relationships
Questions about car accidents
Where can Savannah-related city records be requested?
Savannah’s official Open Records Information page links a city-wide general public-records request form and separately describes Savannah Police Department and Savannah Fire Rescue request options on that form.
Does the Georgia DPS records process cover every crash record?
The DPS process concerns records held by DPS, including crash and incident records and Georgia State Patrol reports. Savannah’s page describes separate city request options; identify the agency relevant to the record you are seeking.
What information should I organize before discussing a car accident?
A useful starting point is a chronology, occupant and vehicle information, scene and vehicle photographs, treatment-related records, and insurance correspondence. Counsel can assess the available information for your matter.
General information about legal services and local resources. A lawyer must review the facts and applicable law for your matter. Contacting the firm does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship.