Car accidents can happen when you least expect it, but being calm and taking smart steps can help you get onto the road to recovery much sooner.
Listed are 9 essential steps to take after a car accident:
- Pull over: This is the first step one needs to take. Pull your car over to the side of the road in order to avoid oncoming traffic. Turn on your hazard lights and set up emergency cones or triangles so that other drivers can see you.
- Check for injuries: Check if you or any other passenger sitting in the car has sustained injuries. If anyone is injured, even if it is a minor one, call 108 for an ambulance right away.
- Call the police: Call the traffic police to report the car accident. While you’re waiting for an officer to arrive on the scene, you can exchange information with the other driver, find witnesses and document all the relevant details of the accident. Stay at the scene of the accident until police officials have gotten your statement, and be sure to record the name of the officer who recorded your statement.
- Exchange information: Exchange information with the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident. Be sure to get the his or her name, address, phone number, license plate number, driver’s license number, vehicle identification number (VIN), insurance company name, and policy number. You may also want to record the make and model of the vehicle.
- Don’t admit fault: After a car accident, do not admit fault to the other driver or discuss the details of the accident. Be sure to only discuss this information with the police and your insurance company. Your insurance company will use the information gathered from all parties to determine the cause of the accident.
- Find witnesses: If possible, find witnesses to the accident and get their name and contact information. The police will take witness statements to help them get a clear picture of what happened.
- Document the accident: Take notes of all details you can remember right after the accident. This includes but is not limited to time of the day etc. This is important as you may not be able to recall the same later. Also, be sure to take pictures of the accident site with your cell phone or camera, including both vehicles and the damage sustained. When taking pictures, capture license plate numbers of any vehicles involved.
- Contact your insurance company: Report the car accident to your insurance company, regardless of whether it was a fender bender or something more serious. Depending on the amount of damage, you may decide to pay for repairs out-of-pocket. However, you still need to call your insurance company to give them your account of what happened, which is especially helpful if the other party involved is dishonest. If you are in an accident that was caused by someone else, you will still need to report the accident to your own insurance company so it can settle the claim with the other person’s insurance company. If the accident was not your fault, your insurance rates should not be affected by the claim.
- Remove important documents and personal belongings from your car: Provided you are in walking condition; don't forget to empty important papers and valuables from your car before it gets towed. Don't forget to remove insurance policy papers, repair reports, receipts, purse, wallet, or music before you leave the keys with the tow operator.