What to do if Your in an Auto Accident

Even if everyone on the road was a great driver, accidents would happen. That’s why it’s important for every driver to know what to do if it happens to them. 

The first thing to do is pretty obvious– make sure everyone is okay and get help for the injured. Whether or not there are any injuries, it is important to call the police. The police will help maintain safety at the scene, take statements from witnesses, and file an accident report that will be needed later when making an insurance claim. 

Once everyone’s safety is secured, it is time to gather information about the accident. If there are any problems with the insurance claim, this information will be vital. You will want to gather all the information you can on the other driver and their vehicle including their name, address, phone number, license plate number, year/make/model/color of all vehicles involved, and everyone’s insurance information. Also, get the names and contact information of any witnesses. 

If you can, take pictures of the vehicles and the scene. Write down a few sentences about what happened while it’s all still fresh in your memory. Also take notes about the weather, road conditions, the other driver, and any other details that you can remember. A simple drawing of the scene can also be helpful. 

After everything is cleaned up at the scene it is time to make phone calls. Your first call should be to your insurance agent so they can get started on the claim. Your next call should be to your attorney. No matter how much you like your insurance company, their business is based on paying out less in claims than they make in premiums. An experienced attorney can make sure you are treated fairly.