So, You Were in a Car Accident...Now What?
Suffering from a car accident, whether it was severe or a minor fender bender, can leave you feeling a rush of emotions, from confusion and fear to anger and anxiety, thus the first step after experiencing a vehicular crash is to…
- Take a breath and get your bearings. It’s important to take a moment to gather your wits, as the collision was likely unexpected and has left you disoriented. Assess whether you’ve suffered any injuries, if so, dial 9-1-1 immediately if possible. If no injuries are apparent, the next step is to…
- Move the vehicle, if possible. After taking stock of yourself and any passengers, it is safest to move the car out of traffic onto the shoulder or side of the road. However, the car may be damaged beyond any functionality, in which case you should turn your hazards on and exit the vehicle to a safe location out of the way of oncoming traffic. Once you, along with any passengers, have moved to a safe area, the next step is to…
- Check on any other vehicles involved in the accident. If another car was involved in the crash, ensure the driver and all passengers are not injured and urge them also to move the vehicle (if possible) to a safe location. For any injured parties, immediately call 9-1-1. After confirming everyone is okay and in a safe location, the next step would be to…
- Call and request a police officer be sent to write up an accident report. A police accident report will be critical in determining liability for insurance claims. If the police are unavailable to come to the scene of the accident, file an accident report at the police station as soon as possible. Never admit fault in a car accident, nor is it wise to place blame when emotions are already running high. Once an accident report has been written, the next step is to…
- Gather information and exchange. The information you will need to collect includes: Name and phone number of driver, license plate number, insurance provider and policy number, make and model of car, location of accident, name and badge of police officer, and names and phone numbers of all witnesses.
- Next, document the scene of the accident. If you don’t have a smart phone with a camera, keeping a disposable camera in your glove compartment would be beneficial. Photograph the scene of the accident and any damage to your car.
- Lastly, file an insurance claim. The sooner you contact your insurance provider, the better. You will more easily be able to recall the details of the accident if you contact your insurance company immediately. Generally it is not a good idea to assume someone will pay for damages just because they say they will. It’s possible once the total cost comes to light, they will back out of paying, at which point it will be very difficult to file an insurance claim on the damaged vehicle. It is also a good idea to check your policy to see what is covered under your insurace, including tow away fees and car rental fees. In most cases, it is only a few extra dollars a month to have a rental car covered in your insurance policy.