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Accident To-Do List

Do not admit fault. Refrain from talking about the reason or cause of the accident with the other driver. This is not a time to neither admit nor place blame. Leave those details to the police and/or your insurance company.

Take pictures: The first thing you should do (and as quickly as possible) is start taking pictures. If your cell phone has a camera in it then you can start immediately before anything at the scene is moved. Watch out for other traffic and make sure you are safe as you take pictures.

Taking pictures before any cars are moved can help your insurer recreate the accident and determine who was at fault and can be a great way to prove damage that did, and didn’t, occur at the scene. If your cell phone doesn’t have a camera, you can always keep a disposable camera in your glove box.

Move cars if possible: Once you’ve taken some photos, you should move your car out of the road if at all possible. This prevents further damage and risk from oncoming drivers and prevents the road from being blocked.

Get the other driver’s information: Once you are safely on the shoulder of the road, get the drivers license and insurance card from the other driver. Write down their vital information, driver’s license number and insurance information. Be sure to also write down their license plate number and don’t forget to ask them for their phone number.

Call the police: You can really do this step at any time—the sooner the better. The police should be called for every accident, even minor ones, so that you get a complete, authoritative report on record.

Call your insurance company: If this is something that you want to put through your insurer as a claim (some minor fender-benders can be paid for out-of-pocket) then call your insurance company while you are at the scene and all the details are fresh in your mind. Some insurers have traveling claims adjusters they may want to send out to the accident.

Take notes: Because you are running on adrenaline after an accident, you may find that you have a very hazy memory of the event a few days later. Take notes throughout the entire process of what caused the accident and what you and the other person or people involved did afterward. This could come in handy later.

Get witness names: Whether you or the other driver is at fault, you should get the names and contact information of any witnesses. If you get sued for negligence, a witness can be your saving grace and account for other factors that may have contributed to the accident.

Remember, your safety should be your top priority after an accident. If you are hurt, wait for emergency services before attempting to walk around.

The post What to Do After an Automobile Accident first appeared on Statewide Insurance Agency.