What to do if you’re in an accident?

What to do if you’re in an accident

We spend a lot of time in our cars, with the average American driver covering over a 1,000 miles a month. That is a lot of driving! With all those miles traveled you may find yourself in the unwanted situation of a car accident at some point in your life.

Read the tips below to learn what you should do if you’re involved in a car accident.

Stay calm

Keeping a normal demeanor helps you stay in control of the situation.

Make sure you and your passengers are OK

Move as far off the roadway as possible, but stay at the scene of the accident. Warn oncoming traffic by activating your hazard warning lights and/or setting flares.

Call the police

Call 911 or the appropriate emergency number to report the accident.

Contact your insurance company and report the claim

The sooner your insurance company knows about the accident, the sooner they can start working to resolve your claim.

Do not admit fault

Do not discuss the car accident with anyone other than the police and your claims representative.

Exchange vital information with the other driver involved in the car accident

Write down the name, address, phone number and license numbers for all drivers and witnesses, particularly those who were not riding in a vehicle involved in the accident. Ask for the insurance companies and policy numbers for drivers involved in the car accident.