What to Do After a Car Accident

What to Do After a Minor Accident

From small fender-benders to parking lot uh-ohs, there are many types of “small” accidents, and no two are quite alike. Still, if you’ve been involved in a minor automobile collision, here’s what to do:

• If you’re in stable condition, move your vehicle to a safe spot near the accident scene. You don’t want to stray too far from the scene of the accident, and you should take pictures of the scene before you move your vehicle. That said, you also don’t want to block traffic or put yourself further in harm’s way.

• Call the authorities. Even if the other driver suggests that you shouldn’t get the police involved for a minor accident, it may be in your best interest to call. An official report could be the documentation you need to get insurance claims passed through properly & efficiently.

• Exchange contact information. Get the phone numbers, email addresses, and the insurance policy information of the other driver(s) involved. Get a picture of everyone’s driver’s licenses too, in addition to a photo of the other vehicle(s)’, license plate number(s), and insurance cards. Were there witnesses to the accident? If so, get their information, too.

• Document your vehicle’s damage. Document as much as you can. Far away pictures of the accident scene from multiple angles. Close-ups of the damage to both vehicles. These types of pictures can help you through the claims process.

• Call your insurance provider ASAP. The sooner you call your insurance company, the sooner the claims process can start. 

What to Do After a Major Accident

How are major accidents different from minor accidents? They often result in serious injuries or even possibly fatalities. The steps to take following a major accident are a bit different:

• Call 911 ASAP. If you’re seriously injured, you should alert emergency personnel or have someone call for you right away. An ambulance should come to take care of everyone’s medical needs, in addition to the police, to assess the scene and damage. If you need immediate medical attention and can’t document important information on your own, the authorities will have likely taken this into consideration. That said, it’s always important to follow up to make sure this is the case after the accident when you’re in the condition to do so.

• Call your insurance provider. Did someone file a claim for you while you were receiving medical attention? Even if you didn’t call yourself, you should still follow up with your insurance provider to give them your account of what happened and ensure everyone is compensated fairly.

• Follow up with your primary care physician. If you’re still feeling any pain after the accident and after being treated by emergency personnel, you should talk to your doctor.