Steps to Take After a Crash
When you have a car accident there are a few keys things you need to do to make sure you are protected.
Key Things You Need to Know If You Have a Car Accident
1. Always stop if you are involved in an accident, this is your legal obligation. Even if you do not think there was any damage, any time you collide with something, you need to stop your car.
2. Never admit responsibility for the accident. Your insurance policy is a contract, and your contract for your insurance with your car insurance company states that you must not assume responsibility or liability under these circumstances. If you expect the insurance company to take care of your claim, let them do the talking.
What To Do at the Scene of a Car Accident
There are many ways to avoid a car accident but once one happens it is important to know what to do and what questions may need to be answered by the other person involved to make your insurance claim. This checklist will help you know what to do after a car accident. It is best to review it now and then print it out and keep a copy with you in your car or bookmark this article in your phone, so you can access it in an accident.
Determine the Extent of Damage or Injuries
Check to see if anyone needs urgent medical care. If you can, try not to move the vehicles unless they are causing a major problem with traffic. If possible wait for the police before moving anything.
Contact the Police
Even in a minor accident, it is important to make sure there is a legal accident report. Read more about how to file a police report when you have a car accident in the article “Your Accident and the Police”.
Limit Your Conversation about the Accident with the Other Party
It is important to limit your discussion of the accident and not to admit any fault or liability. You should only talk about the accident with the police, medical professionals and your insurance representative.
Get the Facts of Your Car Accident
This is the part most people know to do but often forget due to the stress of the accident.
It is important to get names, addresses, and phone numbers of everyone involved in the accident. A description of the car and license plate number can also be helpful, but make sure you also get their insurance company and the vehicle identification number of their car. Don’t just assume the license plate number will do because most insurance companies only record the type of car and the vehicle identification number, not the license plate number. There is a complete list of how to collect this information for you in the 5 sections below.
Car Accident Information Checklist
Here’s the information you will need to file a proper insurance claim:
• Information about what happened
• Information about the driver
• Information for insurance
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