What to Do in the Event of an Accident
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What to Do in the Event of an Accident
Accidents are always
stressful events, no matter how serious the results. With adrenaline pumping
through you, it can be difficult to process what exactly happened during the
accident and what to do when the dust has settled. As such, it is extremely
important to know how to handle the situation before it occurs.
Immediate Actions
While the steps you take generally depend on the severity of damage, the most important thing you can do after an accident is try your best to stay calm. Panic can make a bad situation worse. If need be, take a few deep breaths before assessing the situation. If anyone is seriously hurt, call the police immediately; this is one of those times when seconds can matter.
Immediate Actions
While the steps you take generally depend on the severity of damage, the most important thing you can do after an accident is try your best to stay calm. Panic can make a bad situation worse. If need be, take a few deep breaths before assessing the situation. If anyone is seriously hurt, call the police immediately; this is one of those times when seconds can matter.
Even if no one is
injured, call the police – especially if there is significant damage to the
vehicles. In some states they aren’t required to attend a non-injury accident,
but police can help mediate the situation and control traffic if the vehicles
are unsafe to move.
If, like 70 percent of
accidents, no one is injured, you can consider moving all cars involved to a
safe area away from traffic. If the cars cannot be moved, it is advisable to
turn on your hazard lights and set up marking flares, cones or a reflective
triangle. Keeping other drivers aware of the situation is important for the
safety of everyone involved.
You’ll want to
exchange information with the other driver at this point, so grab your license
and insurance card. The more information you get from them, the better, including
their name, phone number, address, insurance company, policy number, driver’s
license number and license plate number. If the owner of the car was not
driving, get information for the owner as well as the person who was behind the
wheel.
Write down the year,
make, model and VIN number of the other car and, if you’re feeling up to it,
try to jot down any details of the crash itself – your speed, the direction the
cars involved were traveling, that sort of information. The insurance company
will want to know as much as possible and it’s best to record the details when
they are fresh in your mind.
Having a camera is
also helpful. In many cases, the closest camera is on your cell phone, but if
your phone doesn’t have one or takes poor pictures, keep a disposable camera in
your glove box. Taking pictures of the accident site, damage and even insurance
information will help process the insurance claim. If there were any witnesses
around, get their contact information and a recorded statement.
Accident Report and Insurance Claim
If a police officer is on the scene, he will write up an official accident report for you. If not, you’ll need to file an accident report on your own. If you’ve taken the pictures and grabbed all the information you can, this should be a straightforward process. Make sure that you file it within a few days since many states have limits as to how long you can wait before reporting an accident.
If a police officer is on the scene, he will write up an official accident report for you. If not, you’ll need to file an accident report on your own. If you’ve taken the pictures and grabbed all the information you can, this should be a straightforward process. Make sure that you file it within a few days since many states have limits as to how long you can wait before reporting an accident.
Also on the to-do list
is filing the much-dreaded insurance claim. Needless to say, the sooner you
report the accident, the faster the whole process will be finished. Be truthful
and as detailed about the accident as possible. It also helps to know the
extent of your car insurance coverage before getting into an accident in the
first place, so you’re not blindsided by the repair estimates.
Automobile accidents
are an unfortunate but are also a nearly inevitable part of driving a car, and
they generally add more stress to your already busy life. Being prepared for
the worst can make the process easier, ensuring that you get back to the things
that matter as quickly as you can.
