What Information to Exchange After a Denver Car Accident (Driver, Insurance, Witnesses)

Kelly Geraghty on December 30, 2025

After a car accident in Denver, it is easy to feel rattled and forget details that matter later. This guide is your simple checklist for what to exchange at the scene, what to collect from witnesses, and what to do if the other driver refuses to cooperate.

If you are dealing with injuries or a complicated situation, start here: Car Accident Attorney Denver or reach us directly at Contact.

Related guides in this series

The quick checklist: what to exchange at the scene

If you only remember one thing, remember this list.

Get from the other driver

  • Full name and phone number
  • Home address
  • Driver’s license number and state
  • Insurance company name
  • Policy number (or a photo of the insurance card)
  • Vehicle make, model, color, and year
  • License plate number
  • Owner’s name (if different from the driver)

Capture about the crash

  • Exact location (cross streets, nearby businesses, or a screenshot of your map)
  • Date and time
  • Weather and lighting conditions
  • Direction of travel and lane positions (quick note on your phone is fine)

Get from witnesses

  • Full name and phone number
  • Where they were standing
  • A short statement of what they saw (even a quick voice memo helps)

Step 1: Exchange driver and vehicle information

This is your foundation. Without it, your insurance claim can turn into a mess.

Best practice

If the other driver will not share information

  • Stay calm and do not argue.
  • Ask for police assistance if needed.
  • Focus on safety and documenting what you can.

If you are unsure what to do right after the crash, this overview can help: What should you do after a car accident?

Step 2: Insurance details to collect (and why they matter)

When you exchange information, you are not “deciding fault.” You are making sure there is enough information for the claim process to work.

Collect:

  • Insurance company and policy number
  • The phone number on the insurance card
  • The policyholder name (sometimes it is not the driver)
  • If possible, a photo of the entire insurance card

If you find out the other driver is uninsured (or you suspect they are), you can read more here: Injured by an uninsured motorist.

Step 3: Witness information that actually helps

Witnesses can be the difference between a clean claim and a disputed claim.

When you talk to a witness, aim for:

  • Name and phone number
  • Where they were located and what direction they were facing
  • A short, factual statement (no opinions needed)

If they are willing, ask them to text you their name and number so you have it saved correctly.

Step 4: Details you should write down before you leave

Even if you have photos, write down the basics while it is fresh:

  • What you were doing in the 10 seconds before the crash
  • What the other driver did
  • Any statements the other driver made (“I didn’t see you,” “I was looking down,” etc.)
  • Any visible cameras nearby (intersection cameras, businesses, dash cams)

Note: Do not rely on memory later. Small details blur fast.

Special Denver situations

If it is a hit-and-run

If the other driver leaves, focus on:

  • Plate number (even partial)
  • Vehicle make, model, color
  • Direction they fled
  • Witness contacts
  • Calling 911

More guidance here: Hit-and-run.

If it involves a rideshare (Uber or Lyft)

Try to document:

  • Whether you were a passenger, another driver, or a pedestrian
  • Screenshots of the trip status (if you were in the rideshare)
  • Driver name and vehicle details from the app

More guidance here: Injured in an Uber or Lyft accident.

Common mistakes to avoid when exchanging information

  • Leaving without the other driver’s insurance info
  • Forgetting to get witness contact info
  • Only taking one photo of a card that is blurry
  • Relying on the other driver to “text you later”
  • Admitting fault or apologizing in a way that can be misinterpreted when you later talk to insurance

f you want a clean, step-by-step overview of what comes next after the scene, follow the full Colorado crash checklist.

When it helps to talk to a Denver car accident attorney

If any of the following applies, it is worth getting guidance early:

  • You have injuries or symptoms are developing
  • The other driver is uninsured or fled
  • Fault is disputed
  • You were hit by a commercial vehicle
  • You are being pressured by insurance

Start here: Car Accident Attorney Denver or Contact. You can also browse the broader practice area here: Motor Vehicle Accidents.