According to the National Safety Council (NSA), one in every eight drivers will be involved in a motor vehicle accident each year.  Being in an accident can leave you in scared and in shock, especially if you are not prepared.   Know the measures you need to take in the event of an accident before you need to know.

1. Stop your vehicle as soon as it is possible to do so safely.

2. Move your vehicle so you are not blocking traffic. If the vehicle is unable to move, turn on the hazard lights to inform passers-by.  Only take this step if it is NOT illegal to move your car before a police officer has come to the scene and then instructed you to move your vehicle.

3. Turn your ignition off  and make sure all vehicles involved in the accident have turned off their ignitions, too.  Check to make sure there are no visible gas leaks or anything else that could be potentially dangerous to be around as well.

4. Get out and stay clear of the vehicle once the vehicles are moved or stationary and have the engines turned off.  Make sure you and any other drivers or car occupants are out of the way of moving traffic.

5. Find out about any injuries that either you or others may have incurred.  If a person is seriously injured, do not move them unless they are in imminent danger.

6. Call the police and, if necessary, the paramedics. Call you local law enforcement officials to report to the site of the accident.  Make sure to mention any injuries that may have occurred, or if the vehicle(s) is/are creating any blockage to traffic.  If there are injuries that need immediate medical attention, call for medical services as well. 

7. Exchange information with the other driver(s) involved.  Get the other driver’s name, telephone number, address and driver’s license number and state of issuance off of their license. Get the name of their insurance company, the insurance policy number and telephone number to contact their insurance company through. Write down the other vehicle’s car make, model, year and license plate number.  Also write down the name of any passengers that were in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

8. Get witness statements if people stopped as witnesses to the accident.  Ask them to write down what they saw, along with their name and telephone number.  If the witness is not able to stay until the police arrive, ask them to sign their statement and leave it with you to give to the police when they arrive at the scene.

9. Draw a diagram of the scene.  Sketch out where the drivers and passengers of each vehicle were seated, and which direction and lane the vehicles were traveling.  Also take note of other factors, suchk as the date, time and weather conditions.

10. Take Pictures of the scene, if you have a camera handy.  Try to shoot as many angles as possible.  Take pictures of the intersection, or part of the road, in which the collision occurred.  Take pictures of any skid marks as well.  If you, or anyone in the vehicle with you, received injuries also take pictures of them, if possible.

11. Speak with the police as soon as they arrive.  Give the responding law enforcement agent your account of what occurred and your personal information.  Be ready to show your driver’s license and insurance information.  The other driver(s) should do the same.  Also, witnesses still at the scene should speak with the police to explain what they saw and give their personal information.

12. Obtain police information.  Write down the name and badge number of the responding officer and medical emergency personnel, if applicable.  Find out if the law enforcement is the local police, sheriff or highway patrol so you will know where to go to obtain a copy of the police report.

After following these steps you will likely be ready to leave the accident scene. Always cooperate with the police and do not leave until they give you permission to do so.  If your vehicle is drivable, you can usually drive away, if, of course, you are driving with required documentation.  If the vehicle is too damaged to drive, contact a towing company to take the vehicle to your home, repair shop or dealership service department.

Once you are away from the scene, it is time to contact your insurance and the other party’s (if they were at fault) insurance company.  The process cannot begin until you report to your insurance company or agent.  It may take weeks, even months to close up an accident claim, so stay in contact with the insurance company until your settlement is negotiated completely.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information purposes only.