What to do After an Accident and the Effect on Your Car Insurance

As anyone who has ever been in a car accident knows, it is an unbelievably scary experience. I was once in an accident at 25 miles-per-hour. It was a snowy day and the car in front of me stopped to turn left into a gas station. I was keeping proper distance, but my brakes just didn’t work on the sheer surface of the road. I had literally five seconds or more (which seems like an eternity in a situation like this) to look over to my spouse, say “We’re going to hit this car,” and prepare for the impact.

But we weren’t even close to being prepared.

At just 25 miles-per-hour, the force of the impact was shocking. My airbag exploded in my face, and the car caught fire on the passenger’s side. The front of our car was completely crushed, and we never drove it again. All this at 25 miles-per-hour. What if we had been going 50?

What To Do, Step 1 - Determine the Extent of the Damages

It is hard to think straight or stay calm immediately after an accident, but as a responsible motorist, you must. First, you need to determine the extent of your own injuries and those of your passengers. Secondly, if you’re able, check on the status of the other drivers. You may need to call 911 right away, so it’s important to carry a cell phone with you for such emergencies. Even if there are no serious injuries, it is imperative that you call the police so that they can take an accident report.

Next, assuming everyone is all right (or with just minor injuries), begin surveying the property damages. However, if the other motorists involved in the accident are belligerent, it may be best to sit in your car and wait for the police to arrive.

What To Do, Step 2 - File an Accident Report With the Police

Do not discuss the facts of the accident with the other motorists involved. In fact, you should limit your conversation with them to making sure that they are all right and not in need of emergency medical assistance. When the police arrive, stick to the facts. Do not admit any fault or liability or even discuss the matter. And by all means, never leave the scene of an accident before the police are finished taking their report. Even if there are no serious injuries or property damage, you must file a report with the police in order to avoid potentially serious problems later on.

What To Do, Step 3 - Get the Facts

Once the police are on the scene, you should then exchange information with the other motorists involved in the accident. Get their names, addresses, and phone numbers, as well as the license plate number and VIN (vehicle identification number) of their car. For minor accidents, some people think exchanging information is enough - but again, we must reiterate the importance of filing an official report with the police.

What To Do, Step 4 - Call Your Insurance Agent

You should call your insurance agent as soon as possible, preferably at the scene of the accident with the police still there. In fact, it might be a good idea to let the police officer talk with your insurance agent - oftentimes, they can give a better account of the accident than you can, since you are probably going to be a little disoriented from the accident.

These steps are not only good advice for expediting any car insurance claims you need to make, they are also the legal standards. If you fail to follow them, you may be facing more than the inability to collect on your claim - you might be breaking the law. Almost everyone is in an accident at least once in their life, so it is important to be prepared.