In a car accident?
10 Tips to keep you CALM and PROTECTED
If you have ever been in a car accident, even a minor fender bender, you know how upsetting it can be. Often you forget the simple steps you should take to protect yourself and your property.
Here's a list of ten things to help you stay calm and gather the information you might need to make sure any necessary repair costs will be covered:
1. Safety first
Assess the situation. Are you injured? Assess your passengers and people in other involved vehicles. Unless the wreck was severe, consider moving the cars to the side of the road. If that is not feasible, stay inside your car with your seatbelt fastened until help arrives.
2. Be prepared
Put together an "emergency kit" that includes your vehicle registration, your insurance card, a cell phone, a pen and paper, contact numbers for local police departments (but remember you can always call "911" in an emergency), and a disposable camera. Consider carrying cones and/or emergency flares just in case.
3. Phone the police
Even if the damage seems minor, contact the police and get a report. Even a small dent could cost hundreds of dollars to fix. Make sure that you get the other driver's personal information, including insurance information, from the other driver and/or the police officer.
4. Exchange information
Even if you get the other driver's information from the officer investigating the crash, it is still a good idea to confirm this information with the other driver yourself. Make sure to obtain the other driver's address, telephone number, driver's license number, license plate number, insurance company, insurance policy number, and information regarding insurance policy coverage and limits.
Also be sure to jot down a description of every vehicle involved in the wreck, including the make, mode, year and color. Finally, make note of the exact location of the wreck and your interpretation of what happened. Also be sure to get the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all witnesses to the wreck.
5. Take photos
A picture is worth a thousand words. Take photos of all vehicles involved in the wreck, the location of the wreck, and any visible injuries.
6. What NOT to do
Knowing what NOT to do is almost as important as knowing what to do.
- Act in a way that would make your mother proud--remain calm and polite; don't be rude or hysterical.
- It is never advisable to admit fault. While you should always tell the truth, hesitate to admit to any wrongdoing.
- Do not accept money from the other driver at the scene.
- Don't discuss the wreck with anyone other than the officer, your own insurance agent, and/or your car accident attorney.
7. Sit tight
Remain at the scene of the wreck until the officer tells you that you may leave.
8. Know your insurance coverage
Be aware of your own insurance coverage. You should know in advance whether services such as towing, car rental, etc. are available.
9. Make notes
When you get home, while the incident is still fresh in your mind, take a few moments to write down your memory of what happened. Make diagrams showing the positions of the vehicles before and after the collision.
10. Call your insurance agent
If you have your cell phone available, many agents are available 24/7 and can direct you to the claims department immediately. You might need to call from the scene to see if towing is available. If you don't call from the scene, call as soon as you get home.
Be sure to inquire as to the possible consequences of making a claim with your own insurer. You might want to wait a day or two before making a claim to see if the other driver accepts fault. Be sure to gather all documentation, including the police report, for your agent and the agent of the other driver.