A car accident is a stressful and scary event no matter how seasoned a driver you are. There’s the squealing tires, the impact, the sound of metal crunching or glass shattering. Even when no one is hurt, your nerves are probably as wrecked as much as your bumper might be.
Although we hope you’re not involved in a car accident, one occurs nearly every two seconds in the United States. Knowing what to do after you’ve been involved in an accident can help make things a bit less chaotic and keep all those involved as calm and safe as possible.
Handling the Aftermath of a Car Accident Tips
Of course, you can never plan on being involved in a car crash. No one goes out to his or her car in the morning to leave for work or school with the intention of getting in an accident that day. But by following these car accident tips, you can ensure that should a crash take place, you’ll be prepared for what comes next:
Think Safety First. The first thing to do after you’ve been in an accident is to make sure you and any passengers aren’t injured. If it’s possible for you to do so, move your car out of traffic. If major damage has been done, don’t try to move your car so the police can determine what happened. Make sure you turn on your hazards, and stay in the car with your seatbelt on until help arrives.
Call the Police. The police always need to be contacted in the event of an accident. Even if an officer is not needed because the accident was minor, the police will let you know if that’s the case and you should just file an accident report instead. Once the police are on the scene, take note of the names of the officers as well as the police report number.
Do Not Leave the Scene. Never leave the scene until information with the other driver has been exchanged. You’ll need the driver’s name, address, phone number, insurance information, driver’s license number and license plate number. Also write down a description of the car including the make, model, year and color.
Do Not Admit Fault. Who’s at fault should only ever be discussed with the police. Tell the officers what happened, but allow them and the insurance company to decide who is actually at fault. You can also locate witnesses to talk to the police, and take photos of the accident scene and the damage to the vehicles.
Contact Your Insurance Company. As soon as possible, contact your insurance company and open a claim. Some insurance companies offer roadside assistance and will come tow your car if necessary, plus you’ll need to get the costs of the damage estimated at one of their inspection centers.
DriveTeam can help drivers of all ages feel safer out on the road, and decrease the chance of having to deal with these situations. Whether you’re a teen driver getting behind the wheel for the first time or a driver logging hundreds of miles a week for business, our teen driving and corporate driving courses will give you the skills you need, to return home safely to your families each night. Contact us for more information.
I just wanted to say these are great tips. Speaking of squealing tires, I wanted to specifically address tire blowouts. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen blow-outs on the side of the freeway, turn into even worse situations because the driver didn’t pull all the way over to the shoulder.
Another word of advice for drivers experiencing a blowout is to hold the steering wheel firm and straight until the tire causes the vehicle to slow down and only then turning the wheel towards the shoulder. Once again, great article. Thanks for sharing!
Great post! Involving insurance companies can sometimes make the legal process more complicated in a personal injury claim. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can really help you.