Car Accidents: What Should you Do After a Car Accident

Just think of all the car accidents you see along the roads, read about in the paper and hear on the news. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that during 2007 there were over six million accidents reported in the United States. While over four million of them only involved damage to the vehicles, they still required that those involved take action.

It is important to know what to do if you are involved in a car accident. Acting quickly can make a difference in getting those injured medical attention, and ensuring the vehicle gets repaired quickly.

Knowing What to Do

Preparation is the key when it comes to handling car accidents. The first key to being prepared is to make sure you have all the necessary documentation with you, each time you get into your car. This includes having proper identification, your vehicle registration, and your proof of auto insurance. It also helps to keep a pen and paper in your car, just in case you need to take down information.

If there is an accident, keep the following steps in mind, and implement them where necessary:

• The first thing to do is call 911 if there are injuries.
• Even if there are no injuries, the police will likely need to be called so that an accident report can be filed.
• Be sure to put your emergency flashers on and if you have any cones or flares, set those out.
• Call your auto insurance company to inform them of the accident.
• Move to the side of the road and out of oncoming traffic, if possible. If your vehicle cannot be moved, stand a safe distance away from the vehicle.
• Take down contact information of everyone involved in the accident. Get their name, address, phone number, vehicle make and plate number, and their driver’s license number and auto insurance information, if they have the information with them.
• Locate any witnesses that are willing to give you their contact information.
• If possible, take pictures of the scene and any damage.
• Something you never want to do is argue about fault, admit blame, or sign anything that isn’t for your insurance agent or a police officer.

Focusing Your Attention
It may be beneficial to print out the list of tips on what to do after an accident. Keeping it in your car may be a nice safety measure, in case you can’t remember at that exact moment what all you should do. No matter what type of accident it is, the most important thing for everyone involved is to remember not to panic. Remain calm, cool and collected, and just work your way through the accident procedure. You can’t completely avoid accidents, but you can be prepared and that can make a world of difference in the outcome.