What to Do When You Get in an Accident

Jun 23, 2016

Autobahn, Accident, Germany, Car, Road, Transport No one wants to get into an accident, but they do happen. Check out these steps below so you can know ahead of time what to do when an accident occurs.

Move to a Safe Area and Stop Your Vehicle

If your accident happened on the highway or at an intersection, move your car to a safe area, out of the flow of traffic. If you’ve been injured or your car is immovable, put on your hazard lights to let other drivers know there’s trouble. Once you’ve made it to a safe area, put your car in park, turn off the engine, and take a few moments to assess the situation. Try to remain calm, and if it’s safe to get out of your car, do.

Check on Others Involved

Once you’ve moved your car and made sure the area is safe, it’s time to check on the other people involved in the accident. Look for pedestrians, other drivers, and passengers. Even if someone has a minor injury, such as dizziness, it’s important to call 911 and have them looked at by a medical professional.

Call the Police

It’s important to call the police, even for minor accidents. A police report can help your insurance company to understand, from an unbiased account, what happened. When the police arrive, cooperate fully but try to avoid admitting fault or blaming others. Let the police do their job and report objectively. If there are no injuries in the accident, police cannot always come out. If that’s the case, file a report with the state DMV.

Gather Information

Plan ahead for an accident by keeping your important documents, such as a copy of your ID, vehicle registration, emergency contacts, and copy of health insurance cards, in your glove compartment. At the scene of the accident, it’s important to gather as much information about the other people involved in the accident as possible. Here’s a suggested list:

Driver and passenger names
Contact information for driver (email, phone number, and address)
License plate numbers
Makes and models of all vehicles involved
Insurance information (company name, phone number, and policy number)
Contact information for any eyewitnesses
Location of the accident
Name and badge number of responding police officers

If the police can’t take a report, as soon as is reasonably possible, take notes on your side of the story. Memories change and become foggy over time, so it’s best to debrief yourself on the events as soon as possible.

Document the Scene

If you have a camera or smartphone, take photos of the accident, the site, and the damage to the cars. This information will come in handy when filing your report with your insurance company

After everything is over and recorded, you can either call roadside assistance for help moving your car or drive your car home. Make sure the car is safe to drive and that no dash lights have come on, warning you of internal damage.

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