6-Step Guide For When You Get in a Car Accident
July 1, 2020
It's scary when you get in a car accident. Be prepared for the unexpected and make sure you understand the necessary steps to take when you get in a car accident.
Step 1 - Check for injuries
If you or anyone involved in the accident is injured, call 911 or have someone else do it for you.
Step 2 - Get to safety
If your car is driveable, move it to the side of the road, turn off the engine and turn on the hazard lights. Otherwise, leave it where it is and get yourself to safety.
Step 3 - Call 911
Regardless of the collision, calling the police is very important and sometimes required by state. The responding officers will fill out a police report and a description of what happened. When you file a claim, they may ask for the police report to help with the claims process.
Step 4 - Exchange info
After making sure everyone is okay, exchange contact and insurance information. See below for what you should obtain from the other party:
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Full name
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Phone number and email
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Insurance company and policy number
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Driver's license and license plate number
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Year, make, model and color of car
Avoid discussing fault with the other party. Leave that to the police report and the insurance company when they gather info from each party.
Step 5 - Document the accident
To protect yourself, we recommend taking the following steps to document the accident:
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Get the responding officer's info
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Obtain a copy of the accident report or police report number
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Take pictures
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Talk to witnesses
Step 6 - Notify your agent or insurance company and start the claim process
You may be in shock from the accident and might want to contact your agent while you are at the scene so that they can help walk you through the necessary steps to take. If you are unable to call at the scene, give your agent or insurance company a call as soon as possible to get the claim process started.
Following these steps will ease stress levels after a car accident, and it will help you get you and your car back to the way they should be as quickly and as smoothly as possible.