Car Accident Tips

Never leave the scene of an accident, no matter how minor it is, without checking for damage to the vehicles, checking with the other driver and passengers for injuries and exchanging insurance information. To do so is illegal and could be a felony in some states.

If someone is injured you are required by law to help that person, including providing transportation to a hospital. But if the injury seems serious, call 911 and wait with the other people involved for the paramedics.

Always report the accident. Never make a “gentleman’s agreement” with the other driver to let the insurance companies handle it and not to report it to the police. The other person may be carrying a phony or expired insurance card and may not be insured at all. If you don’t get a police report, there is no proof that the accident ever happened, let alone who is at fault.

Always remain calm. Even if the other driver was at fault, the first thing you should say is “Are you alright?” Getting angry or excited, or fixing blame will not help the situation. You need to keep your wits about you to remember to collect the other driver’s information and call the police.

Never say it was your fault at the scene of an accident. This amounts to legally admitting liability and could open you up to lawsuits or other penalties. Just be polite, stay calm, help others, but protect yourself.

Properly document the accident. Write down the other car’s color, year, make, model and license plate number. Get the other driver’s license number as well as their address and phone number. Get their insurance card and calmly and carefully copy down all of the relevant information. Also write down where on the vehicle the damage is located.

Write down a clear-headed account of how the accident occurred. What were you doing just before? What street were you on? In which direction were you headed? Document all the circumstances clearly as you remember them. Make sure your story is consistent every time you tell it.

If there are witnesses, don’t let them leave without taking their name and phone number.

If you have a camera (or smartphone), take pictures of the scene. These could come in handy during the ensuing claims process.

If you were injured, or if you experience persistent pain or health problems after the accident, see a doctor right away.

If there were injuries, either to you or anyone else, you will need to see a personal injury lawyer.

Report the crash to your insurance company immediately. There is often a time limit for filing a report, so do it right away. Know what you’re covered for (a rental car, for instance). You are entitled to take your vehicle to any repair shop you choose.

Stay on top of the insurance companies and the repair shop. You want to get this resolved quickly so you can move on with your life.