Car accidents happen no matter how safe of a driver you are. You simply cannot control every aspect of the road and other drivers on it. 

You can, however, control how you react after you get into a car accident. In the moments after a car accident, there are some crucial steps that you should take, whether it’s a fender bender or a head-on collision.

Read on to learn what you should do in the event of a car accident.

1. Ensure Everyone’s Safety

The most important thing after an accident has occurred is that no one is injured. Depending on how the accident happened, it might be hard to tell if an injury occurred right away.

Take some time to assess the scene. Talk to everyone involved in the crash, including your passengers and the driver and passengers of the other car. 

If someone is in need of medical attention, call an ambulance right away.

In order to prevent any further collisions, both cars involved should be pulled off the road and out of traffic. If you can’t move the vehicles, turn on the hazard lights or set up traffic flares to warn the other drivers. 

2. Call the Police

It is always a good idea to get a police report of an accident just in case you may need it for legal reasons or to file an insurance claim.

Don’t allow the other driver to leave the scene until the police arrive. When the police arrive, be sure to give them as much information as possible. 

After the police have written their report, request a copy and ask for the name and badge number of the police officer.

3. Document the Accident

After you’ve called 911 and you are waiting for them to arrive, you can do some of your own documentation of the accident.

Take pictures of your vehicle damage and the damage to the other vehicle. It would be a good idea to take a picture of the license plate of the other driver as well.

This article from Forbes has a great section about how to photograph an accident scene. 

Take pictures of the area of the accident and write down the address or intersection. It may be a good idea to draw a sketch of the positioning of the vehicles and in what direction both drivers were driving.

Documenting as much of the accident as you can as quickly as you can will ensure that you don’t forget any important detail and can help with your insurance claim.

4. Don’t Discuss the Accident 

It can be tempting to try to talk to the other driver about what happened and why but it’s best not to do this. You may say some things that can get turned around on you and make it seem like your fault.

Don’t ever admit fault to an accident and don’t get into an argument with the other driver. Simply wait for the police officer to arrive and let them know the details of the accident.

5. Exchange Information

Before you leave the scene, be sure that you have exchanged information with the other driver. 

Be sure to collect the full name of the other driver. You will also need to write down the name of their insurance company and their policy number. 

You do not need to exchange your driver’s license number or home address. This used to be commonplace but with identity theft being so prominent, this is now advised against. 

6. Call Your Insurance

As soon as you get home, your first step should be to call your insurance company and file a claim. 

Don’t let time pass, as this could come into question during the process. Give your insurance company as much detail as possible. 

They will gather the evidence and let you know how to proceed. You may also need to call the insurance of the other driver if they were at fault. 

This process can be challenging but it can save you from paying your deductible and even reimburse you for pain and suffering or lost pay if you missed work.

7. Call an Attorney If Needed

There may be instances in which you would benefit from having an attorney help you with legal claims from a car accident. An attorney can protect your rights, some of which you don’t even know you have.

Learn more about how a car accident attorney can help here. 

________________________________________

Conclusion

It goes without saying that you may not be clear-minded after a car accident. They are scary and it can be hard to think straight. 

It may be a good idea to jot down this list with some short notes on your phone or in your car to use as a reminder of how you should proceed in the heat of the moment.

This way, you can take the right steps after a car accident and stay safe and protected legally, financially, and physically.