What to do Immediately After a Car Accident

Before you whip out your smartphone and start taking pictures, there are steps to take in the immediate aftermath of a car accident.

Safety First

• Check for injuries. If you or your passengers are injured, call emergency hotline 999. If you’re seriously injured, try not to move.
• Get to a safe location. If your car is safe to drive and you are causing a road hazard, move your car to the side of the road. Shift into park and turn off your car. Turn on your hazard lights. Use cones and flares, if you have them.

Call for Help

• Call an ambulance if others appear to be injured, such as the driver of the other vehicle, pedestrians or bicyclists.
• Call the police. Even if the accident seems minor, a police accident report will help you when you file a claim. In some states, you are required to call the police to the scene of an accident.
• Call a breakdown if your car is not safe to drive. If you have roadside assistance insurance like AA, call your provider.

Exchange Information

After you make sure you and your passengers are safe, and you’ve called for help, you can exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. Here’s the information you’ll want to gather:

• Full name and contact information
• Driver’s license and license plate number
• Insurance information, including the policy number and effective dates
• Make, model and color of the vehicle
• Location of the accident
• Names of any other parties involved, including passengers of the other vehicle
• Witness contact information (if applicable)

If you do not feel it is safe or you are uncomfortable with the other driver, you can wait for the police to help you facilitate the exchange of information.

It’s also a good idea to avoid discussing who was at fault. Your insurance adjuster will determine fault by reviewing the facts of the accident and other information like vehicle damage, police reports and witness statements.

Source: Forbes