So, You Had an Accident
Recently, a friend of mine was involved in a car accident. Having never had an accident before, he was a bit shaken up and called me from the scene of the accident. Here’s what I told him to do.
- Call the police.
No matter how “minor” the accident may seem, err on the side of caution and notify the authorities. The police will create a report based on the statements you, the other driver(s), and any witnesses to the accident give. Be sure to get a copy of the report for your records and for your insurance company. (It usually takes a few days for the report to be processed.) If the police don’t come to the scene of the accident, go to the local police station and file a report.
- Be quiet.
Don’t apologize or admit any fault to the other driver(s) or passengers. Instead, wait to give your statement to the police.
- Exchange Information.
If the police don’t come to the scene, make sure that you get the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the drivers of all vehicles involved in the accident, along with the names of their insurance companies and insurance policy numbers. Be sure to get the names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses, too.
- Take pictures.
Get pictures of the accident scene, including your car, the other car(s) involved in the accident, and any other damaged property. Photographs may prove helpful to the insurance company in conducting their investigation. The average cell phone has a decent camera. If you don’t have a camera phone, consider keeping a disposable camera in your car for emergencies.
- Injured?
Stay in or near your car so long as it is safe to do so. EMS personnel will first check the cars involved in the accident for people with injuries. If you aren’t in your car, then you may be overlooked.
- Get organized.
Make sure that all of your car-related documents are current and in your car. That includes proof of insurance and registration. The last thing you need after an accident is a ticket for failure to provide proof of insurance or registration.
