What to Do After an Accident

*knock on wood!* It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a car accident. I was 17 when I had my first car accident. I was turning left out of a parking lot and a car hit the tail end of my car. I don’t remember what I did after that accident. I think someone else called for a policeman. After that, I spent the next several years avoiding left-hand turns.

So, what do you do when you have an accident? Here are some tips from my friends:

• Take some deep breaths & stay calm. (Something I’d need to hear: No crying!) You’ll need to be calm so you have good judgement.
• If it’s a minor accident, move vehicles out of the way of traffic.
• Check for injuries. Call an ambulance, if necessary.
• Call the police, no matter what.
  • Tell the dispatcher your name, if there are injuries and your location (be as specific as possible). Don’t hang up until it’s okay to do so.
• When the policeman arrives, tell them what happened and get some information from them:
  • Name
  • Badge or ID number
  • Phone number
  • Police report number
• Exchange insurance information.
• Take notes about the accident & people involved.
  • Name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Make, model and year of their car
  • License plate number
  • Insurance carrier
  • Insurance policy number
• Take these photos, if you can:
  • Scene of the accident
  • Damage to your vehicle
  • Accident location
  • People involved with the accident
• Don’t leave the scene of the accident before the police arrive.
• Note: Don’t accept blame or admit fault by saying “I’m sorry,” as it could be used against you.
• File the insurance claim. Call your insurance company immediately after a crash to start processing your claim.

What’s the first thing you do after an accident? Share it below!

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