What to Do if You’re in a Car Accident

Statistically speaking, at some time in your life you’re likely to be involved in a car accident, whether as a driver or as a passenger. If you are in a car accident there are certain things you should always do. Here’s a breakdown of steps you should take if you’re in a car accident:

Check for Injuries and Get Help
The most important thing to do after a car accident is to take can of anyone who is injured. Before emergency medical help arrives, you can cover the victims to keep them warm, but don't try to move them and don't give them anything to drink. (Some “Good Samaritans” have been sued by the people they tried to help. Of course, if someone is in danger of being drowned, burned, or killed by an exploding fuel tank, get them away from the car.

Get Witnesses
Immediately look for people who witnessed the car accident and ask for their names and phone numbers. If you have time, ask them what they saw and make notes in case they forget later on. If they refuse to cooperate, write down their license plate numbers so they can be contacted by your insurance company and subpoenaed if the case goes to court.

Call the Police
Don’t move your vehicle or leave the scene of a car accident until the police have been notified. If people are injured or the flow of traffic has been seriously disrupted, dial 911 on your cellular phone or at a call box or pay phone or ask someone else to do so. If there's no emergency, don’t dial 911, but do notify the local police or highway patrol. When help arrives, take an active part in assuring that you'll have the best possible record of the accident by doing the following:
• Write down the names and badge numbers of the police officers and other emergency personnel that arrive at the scene.
• Request that both you and the other driver be given breath tests, if you think the other driver has been drinking or using drugs and you haven't.
• Be sure the officer's car accident report includes a complete list of the people in the other vehicle and that all spaces for additional names are crossed out.
• Ask how you can obtain a copy of the police report, since you need it to document your car accident claim.

Document the Accident
Documenting the accident is very important no matter who was at fault. Even if another driver agrees to forget the incident or to settle it between you, documenting vital information may prove your innocence or save you from exaggerated claims if he or she later decides to sue.
Make sure you note:
• The other car’s VIN (vehicle identification number) and license plate number. Don't forget to note the state. Ask to see vehicle registrations; if a car is registered to someone other than the driver, be sure to get that person's name and address, too.
• The make, model, and year of each vehicle, plus a short description that includes its color and any visible damage. Note which damage appears unrelated to the accident. (Obviously if you rear-ended a car you didn't break its front headlight.)
• The drivers' names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, ages, and any disabilities (such as the need for corrective glasses) that you see on their licenses. Check to be sure the name and address on each license are current ones.
• The drivers' auto insurance carriers and policy numbers. If possible, get the addresses and/or phone numbers of their insurance agents. Some states now require drivers to carry that information in their vehicles, and many insurers provide cards with those details each time the insurance policy is renewed.
• The names and phone numbers of any passengers in each car involved, including those in your car.

Notify Your Insurance Company
Once you’ve collected all your data, notify your insurance company. They’ll ask specific questions about the car accident, and you’ll have all the information necessary at your fingertips.

Hopefully you won’t need all the information you collect, but in many cases you’ll only have one chance to gather information – so take the time to document everything you can relating to a car accident you’re involved in.

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