1- If feasible, get out of your car. – After an accident occurs, it’s always best to get out of your car. This can be especially important if the accident was severe enough to do considerable damage to your car. You will also want to communicate with anyone you hit (or hit you) or any witnesses nearby. Make sure you aren’t significantly injured however, as in that case you should wait for anyone who is capable to take care of you instead. If someone else is injured, you should do your best to get them into a safe position until emergency responders can arrive. Above all, DO NOT LEAVE THE SCENE.
2- Contact police if necessary – Generally speaking, you should always contact the police if you get into an accident. Even if the accident is minor, the police report will allow you to make a case to either your insurance company or the other person’s insurance company when trying to get the company to cover the damage. With that said, you should really use your discretion on whether it’s absolutely necessary. Some very minor accidents may not even need the insurance companies to get involved, so you should always use your discretion.
3- Exchange information – To facilitate the coming transaction with your insurance company, you will want to get as much information as possible from anyone who was involved in the accident. You will want to get a copy of their insurance card, name, phone number, address, basically anything that will allow you to communicate with them and their insurance company. If you fail to do this, it will be that much harder to bring your driving life back to normalcy.
4- Keep a record of the damage – Perhaps the most important thing you can do for insurance purposes is find a way to keep a record of the damages. In the digital age, everyone has a smart phone capable of taking pictures. Photograph the damage on both your and anybody else’s car or property. This will allow you to make sure that even if the damage is repaired individually, proof of the accident will exist. There are other ways to keep a record, but photographic evidence will likely be your best bet.
5- Contact your insurance company and auto body shop – This one goes without saying, but the sooner you contact your auto body shop, the sooner life can return to normal for you. Auto body shops can fill up quickly, so you will want to get an appointment for your vehicle as soon as possible. This is especially true if your insurance company is requesting an estimate. You don’t want to end up with a broken car for longer than a month. Do this step as soon as you are able after leaving the scene of the accident. Here is more information on repairs involving insurance claims.
6- Talk to a lawyer – Depending on the severity of the accident and the degree of recklessness involved in the accident, you may want to talk to a lawyer. While this isn’t an essential step, you may breathe easier knowing you’re not exposed to any liability. After all, civil court for car-accident related injuries can be traumatic for some. Even if you are liable, the earlier you get legal consultation, the safer you will be against suit.
