What To Do If Youre In A Car Accident

Even the best and most defensive of drivers could find themselves in a car accident

. It may be a small mishap like a scraped bumper or worse, something more life-threatening. When accidents occur, the most important thing to do first is to stay calm and not to panic. Keeping your cool allows you to think clearly so you can do the right thing. It also helps if you always have an emergency kit in your glove compartment.

Assess the Situation

Check if anyone has been hurtthe other driver/s, passengers, pedestriansand apply first aid or basic life support if you can. Call your respective emergency hotline number for proper medical care. Turn on your hazard lights and set out your warning triangles or cones to alert traffic. Notify the policethis is important especially if someone has been injured and there has been substantial damage to property. The police can help you in assessing the situation and calling for prompt medical care. Be sure to take down the name of the police officer and base station for your reference.

Obtain Important Information

Arguing with the other driver(s) involved will not solve anything; it is best to settle the matter at hand objectively. Get the contact information of the other driver(s). You can ask to see their drivers license to verify the information and to be able to copy it. Aside from their name, address, and phone number, write down the details (make, model, color, license plate) of the car theyre driving. It is also advised to identify witnesses to the car accident and to get their contact details. The police officer at the scene will also get this information, but by the time the officer arrives, those who may have seen the accident would already have leftso do this quickly.

Take photos of the accident from all possible angles and the resulting damage to the vehicles. Write down what happened so you dont forget, especially when the officer takes down your statement.

File the Accident Report

Based on your recollection of what happened, file a car accident report at the nearest police station. A police officer can help you do this and if the other driver is cooperative, his or her statement will be taken into account as well. A police report supplements insurance claims and speed up the process.

Call the Insurance Company

Notify your insurance company right awayat the scene if possible, or later while you file the accident report. In some instances, it would be better if your insurance agent gets to talk to the police officer assigned to you so that the agent sees the whole pictureand because the police officer may be able to lay out the incident more clearly and without bias than you. Dont put off informing your insurance company about the accident because unnecessary delay can result in your claim being denied.

The most important thing to do if youre in a car accident is to stay level-headed. Persons who are easily angered would not remember to get license plates or even to see first if anyone had been hurt. In addition, safety should be a prioritypractice safety measures at the scene so you dont set off another accident.

by: Kyoko Nitori

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