What to do After a Car Accident

No one ever thinks they will be involved in a car accident, but it happens to the best of us and can be very scary when it does happen.  Do you know what to do?  If you do, you can help to speed up the recovery process and insurance claim process. When you are involved in a car accident you should:

Stay Calm.Stop your vehicle and assess for injuries.  Remember that your health and your life and the lives and health of the people in the vehicle with you are more important than your vehicle.

Call the authorities if necessary.Let them know where you are, how many people are in the vehicle, and if there are any injuries.

Take reasonable steps to protect yourself, and your vehicle, from further damage.Where possible and if legal, move the autos to the side of the road and turn on your hazards as soon as it is safe. If you have flares, you may wish to use them to warn oncoming traffic and to prevent additional crashes.

Take notes.  Take note of the date, the time, and the location.  Write down how the accident occurred, even sketch it out if possible.  Name the name and location of the damage to your vehicle.  Note the type and location of damage that has been found on other property.  Get the names and addresses of all of the other people who are involved.  Get the names and phone numbers of all witnesses, get the name and badge numbers of all police officer.

Inquire where you can get an official copy of the police report. There’s a good chance you’ll need it when you submit your insurance claim to your insurer.

Call your insurance company right away. As well, they’ll be able to explain the next steps, like where to have the car towed if necessary and arrange for an adjuster to come out and appraise the damage before any repair work is done.

Avoid taking responsibility for the accident.  Don’t give more information than is necessary about your ability to pay, your fault, etc.