There’s certain things you need to do when you’ve been involved in a car accident (whether you are responsible for it or not) that many people are unaware of. We’ve spoken to the SELECT from Direct Line insurance team to give you some handy tips.
1 Turn on your hazard lights.
2 Get out of your car only if outside your car is reasonably safe or safer than in it. In a minor accident, your car is unlikely to be at risk of catching fire. Do not step out into fast-moving traffic–go out the opposite door if necessary. Be especially careful at night. It is much better to have someone hit your car with you in it than to have him hit you unarmored.
3 Of course, the first thing you need to do after an accident is check that everyone involved is uninjured.
4 Call the police as soon as possible. You might be under the impression that the police is called only if it’s a major car accident or if somebody’s hurt, when in actuality the police should be called no matter how minor the accident, particularly if repairs are going to be needed. The police report will help the insurance companies determine who is responsible for paying. Ask the police if you should cautiously move the car out of the travel lane, if it will move and it is safe to do so. Do not move far lest the other driver think you are running away.
5 If you’re involved in an accident, you will need to jot down as much information as possible and take certain steps to help your insurance company and also ensure that you do not break the law. It’s a good idea to carry a pen and paper in your glove compartment so that in the event of an accident you can take down notes. A disposable camera is handy to take pictures at the scene.
6 It is also important that you report the accident to your insurance company, even if you do not want to claim yourself.
7 Don’t discuss fault. Do not ever admit fault, to any driver or the police. Explain what happened to the officer. Let the officer, insurance companies, and attorneys determine who caused the accident.
8 Photograph and Document the Accident. Use your camera to document the damage to all the vehicles. Keep in mind that you want your photos to show the overall context of the accident so that you can make your case to a claims adjuster. If there were witnesses, try to get their contact information; they may be able to help you if the other drivers dispute your version of what happened.
9 Exchange Information. After the accident, exchange the following information: name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver license number and license plate number for the driver and the owner of each vehicle. If the driver’s name is different from the name of the insured, establish what the relationship is and take down the name and address for each individual. Also make a written description of each car, including year, make, model and color — and the exact location of the collision and how it happened.
10 Locate witnesses. Get the name and contact information (telephone number and address) of anyone who saw the accident. Do this as quickly as possible, while people are stopped to see what happened. Ask them to stay to give a statement to the police officer. If they are in a rush, make sure to get their contact information.
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