On average, there are 6 million car accidents in the U.S. annually and 3 million people are injured. Chances are you have already or will be involved in an accident (or accidents) at some point in your life. So, it’s important to know what steps to take after a car accident, whether it’s a major crash or a minor fender bender.
Call 911 if there is an injury.
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries, then check with the other driver to see if they’re ok. If someone is injured, as long as they’re out of the way of traffic, it’s best to leave them where they are. Moving them may injure them further and should be done by emergency service professionals.
Try to calm yourself.
A car accident can be super stressful. Try to breathe deeply and focus on your breath to calm yourself. This will help you remain level-headed and not get into a heated argument with the other driver. Staying calm will also allow you to recall all the details of the accident better.
Take a quick photo or video.
It may be useful to have a photo of exactly how your vehicles were in the immediate aftermath of the crash. This can help protect you against insurance fraud.
Pull off to the shoulder if vehicles are drivable.
If the accident was minor, and you’re able to move your cars, pull them to the shoulder and out of the way of traffic.
Call the police non-emergency line so they can write a report.
For a minor accident, the non-emergency police line is what you should call. If the crash was major, you should have already called 911 by this point.
Take down a record of events with notes and photos.
Write down exactly what happened that caused the accident, so you can accurately tell your story to the police. Take photos of the scene, the damage, and the other vehicle’s license plate.
Exchange names and insurance info.
Get (and provide) information such as name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance info (provider name and policy number). Don’t apologize or take blame (even if you think it’s your fault). You may think you are to blame for the accident, but that’s not for you to decide.
Don’t leave the scene.
Leaving the scene of an accident could get you into major legal trouble, especially if anyone was injured. A hit-and-run involving death or major injury could land you up to 20 years in prison. Even if it’s just a minor accident, you need to wait until the police file their report before you can leave.
Notify your auto insurance provider.
Give your auto insurance provider a call or file a claim online. Also give A and H Insurance (or your insurance broker) a call, so we are aware of the accident and can assist you in the claims process.
