Few scenarios in life are as scary as being involved in an automobile accident. Even minor fender-benders can shake you up enough to make you miss important steps that will help protect you physically, financially and legally. To prevent further problems, you can familiarize yourself ahead of time with these simple steps for what to do if you’re involved in an accident.
Check for Injuries
The very first thing to do is make sure that you and your passengers are okay. If you’re able to, check on the driver and passengers in the other vehicle before calling 911. This way, you can better inform the dispatcher of the need for an ambulance.
Clear the Roadway
If it’s a minor accident and the vehicles are functioning, turn on your hazard lights and move the cars off to the side of the road. If the cars can’t be driven, turn on the cars’ hazard lights to warn approaching vehicles. If you have a road safety kit, set up its warning triangle or flares.
Call the Police
Always call the police. Even with minor accidents, the official police report helps to establish liability. Even if you are the responsible party, a police officer might note factors beyond your control that reduce your responsibility when it comes time to settle with the insurance companies. Sometimes, the other party will try to get you to settle without calling an officer. This is always a bad idea, especially considering how common it is for people to engage in rear-ending insurance scams. It’s always helpful to have a police officer assess the situation.
Law enforcement officers are also trained in keeping victims calm, and they serve as impartial referees at the scene of an accident. Make sure you get the badge numbers and names of any attending officers before they leave the scene.
Exchange Information
You and the other driver will need to exchange the following information: name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, insurance company and policy number. It’s helpful to keep a notebook and pen in your car to write down this information and any other details of the accident while they’re fresh in your mind. Also, get contact information for any witnesses present. It’s helpful to not assign blame and try to conduct this exchange as peacefully as possible.
Take Pictures
Use your phone camera to document the accident with pics and video, capturing the overall scene of the accident for the claims adjuster to review later. Make sure to capture photos of the damage to the other person’s car so that he or she cannot claim later that you caused damage that already existed.
Call Your Insurance Company
No matter who was at fault, call your own insurance company to report the accident as soon as possible. Even if the other driver is at fault, your insurance company can handle some of the stress of filing claims and getting the other party’s insurance company to compensate you.