Things You'll Need:
- Vigilance
- Calm attitude
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Step 1
The first thing you should do above all else is to make sure everyone is OK. That means checking on the driver and passengers in both (or more) vehicles. It doesn’t matter who’s fault it is. The health and safety of human beings come first.
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Step 2
If it’s just a minor fender-bender, talk to the other driver(s) and decide if it’s worth reporting to the insurance agencies. If neither cars show any real damage, it may not be worth the effort (assuming no one got injured as well). The key here is that both (or more) parties need to agree.
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Step 3
If it’s a more serious accident, call the police. They will file an official report. DO NOT MOVE THE CARS! Let the police do that once they get there. Once you’ve moved the cars, it’s too late. The police will only be able to go on each driver’s version of what happened. They won’t actually be able to see the configuration of the cars after the accident if you move them. Be warned that even if you’re not at fault, the police report may not be able helpful in supporting you.
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Step 4
Do not get into a blame game with the other driver(s). If it’s obvious (e.g., you got rear-ended), then the other driver(s) will likely admit it. Otherwise, nothing you say will make the other driver(s) admit their guilt. So, just wait for the police to file a report. Again, it doesn’t guarantee anything related to who’s at fault, but it will help to document your case.
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Step 5
Get information from each of the drivers. Take down all of the information from their driver’s license, registration, and insurance paperwork. Don’t leave anything out.
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Step 6
It would be ideal if you had a digital camera in the car. That way, you could take pictures of the accident including the damages to the cars, the layout of the street, passengers in the other car, etc.
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Step 7
Whether you have a camera or not, note all of the details of the other cars including the passengers. How many are in the other car(s), what approximate ages are they, where are they sitting, do they have seat belts on, etc.?
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Step 8
Finally, call your insurance agent and let him/her know the details of the accident. It’s possible that you may feel like you are getting the runaround by your insurance company…after all, they are there to protect their financial interests above all. Let me say that again…they are there to protect their financial interests. So, if you get frustrated by them, seek out a lawyer. Although I’m not too crazy about using lawyers either, they can be a blessing in such situations. It will depend on your circumstances. Good luck!
Comments
zadsdonna said
on 11/28/2008 Really good advice, thanks
cadence said
on 11/27/2008 Great information. It's important to handle an accident properly, since you need to make sure to be safe.