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 If
you’re involved in an accident with a motorist,
pedestrian or bicyclist, the law requires you to stop
immediately and aid any injured person and to properly
identify yourself. You are also required to notify the
police immediately by calling 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Each year, millions of people are involved in traffic
accidents. If you are one of these unfortunate people,
will you know what to do in the aftermath of a collision?
How you react can prevent further injuries, reduce costs
and accelerate the clean-up and repair process.
Over 6.3 million police-reported motor vehicle crashes
occurred in the United States in 1998. Almost one-third
of these accidents resulted in injury. In 2001, nearly
42,000 people died on America's roadways. Clearly, accidents
are a part of life in America.
So, if you are involved in a traffic collision,
try to remain calm, and follow these steps:
1. Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Glove Compartment
Drivers should carry a cell phone, as well as pen and
paper for taking notes, a disposable camera to take
photos of the vehicles at the scene, and a card with
information about medical allergies or conditions that
may require special attention if there are serious injuries.
Also, keep a list of contact numbers for law enforcement
agencies handy. Drivers can keep this free fill-in-the-blanks
accident information form in their glove compartment.
A set of cones, warning triangles or emergency flares
should be kept in the trunk.
2. Keep Safety First
Drivers involved in minor accidents with no serious
injuries should move cars to the side of the road and
out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leaving cars parked
in the middle of the road or busy intersection can result
in additional accidents and injuries. If a car cannot
be moved, drivers and passengers should remain in the
cars with seatbelts fastened for everyone's safety until
help arrives. Make sure to turn on hazard lights and
set out cones, flares or warning triangles if possible.
3. Exchange Information
After the accident, exchange the following information:
name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy
number, driver license number and license plate number
for the driver and the owner of each vehicle. If the
driver's name is different from the name of the insured,
establish what the relationship is and take down the
name and address for each individual. Also make a written
description of each car, including year, make, model
and color — and the exact location of the collision
and how it happened. Finally, be polite but don't tell
the other drivers or the police that the accident was
your fault, even if you think it was.
4. Photograph and Document the Accident
Use your camera to document the damage to all the vehicles.
Keep in mind that you want your photos to show the overall
context of the accident so that you can make your case
to a claims adjuster. If there were witnesses, try to
get their contact information; they may be able to help
you if the other drivers dispute your version of what
happened.
5. File An Accident Report
Although law enforcement officers in many locations
may not respond to accidents unless there are injuries,
drivers should file a state vehicle accident report,
which is available at police stations and often on the
Department of Motor Vehicles Web site as a downloadable
file. A police report often helps insurance companies
speed up the claims process.
6. Know What Your Insurance Covers
The whole insurance process will be easier following
your accident if you know the details of your coverage.
For example, don't wait until after an accident to find
out that your policy doesn't automatically cover costs
for towing or a replacement rental car. Generally, for
only a dollar or two extra each month, you can add coverage
for rental car reimbursement, which provides a rental
car for little or no money while your car is in the
repair shop or if it is stolen. Check your policy for
specifics.
Obviously, it's much easier to prevent accidents and
injuries in the first place than to deal with the painful
aftereffects.
A FREE auto insurance quote is available with no
obligation!
Click here and get your quote today and see
the savings!
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