What to do in an Accident
Car crashes happen every day. They can tie up traffic, slowing our commute and may cause us to skip that extra cup of coffee before rushing out of the house. But what happens if you are involved in a car accident? Being knowledgeable of what to do before an accident happens can ease the stress of the situation. Please remember these tips in the event that you are involved in an accident.
- Stay calm and check-in with the individuals involved. If someone is hurt, call 911 immediately.
- After determining if there are injuries, relocate to a safe place. Move your vehicle to the side of the road or an emergency lane, if it is drivable. Turn on your hazard lights and use any flares or emergency equipment, if available.
- You may feel the need to apologize, but don’t! Admitting fault or implying that the accident could be your fault can cause difficulties during the claims process.
- Report to the authorities. Keep first-responder information handy; a good idea is to place this information with your insurance identification cards and your proof of insurance. Police may not respond to a fender-bender but ensure that you immediately file a police report regarding the accident. This document will be important to submit to your claims representative.
- Gather all of the important information! Car crashes can be nerve-racking but be sure to keep a level-head and remember the information that you need: the full names of drivers involved, drivers license numbers, insurance policy numbers and current telephone numbers. Additionally, write down the license plate numbers and make and model of the vehicle(s) involved. Lastly, obtain the full names and telephone numbers of any witnesses, if applicable. The police report may not have this information ready for quite some time.
- Travel with your cell phone. This device can come in handy, not only for emergency phone calls but you can take photos of the accident and also type in the aforementioned important information if you don’t have a pen and paper.
- Notify your insurance company as soon as possible. If it is definitely the fault of the other driver, be sure to contact their insurance company and file a claim under their policy information. It is best to handle claims through the insurance companies, even if the damage seems minimal. The other driver may not be so accommodating to pay the bill once they actually receive it.