What to do in case of a car accident?
We often believe that accidents don’t happen. Clients leave their insurance agency assuming that their policy will instantly make them better at driving; while having the peace of mind that their insurance is covering their fatalities is relieving, we have to keep in mind the true dangers that driving entails. Each year there are —on average — 6 million car accidents each year in the United States alone. In 2022, 20 175 of those car accidents resulted in death.
In the light of this, having a policy that can cover your occurances is amazing, but knowing what to do in case that they happen is even better. That’s why we encourage our clients to revise the procedure of what to do in case of a car accident:
Do not leave the scene.
Please! If you are involved in an accident, regardless if it’s a minor one, do not leave the scene. By doing this, you’ll prevent having to face felony charges like Hit And Run. Especially if the accident you’re involved in resulted in injuries, escaping will turn out as a felony charge, however, if the accident results in minor property damage it will be charged as a misdemeanor.
If anyone was injured, call 911 immediately
At the time of the accident, one would determine if any injuries were caused at the scene. If so, don’t hesitate to reach out for help immediately, for lives could be in danger.
Call the police to report the occurence
By calling the police, they will issue an accident report. Police will have you take a copy of the report in order to file the claim at your insurance agency.
Take pictures of the impact including any damage to the body of the car
By documenting the scene, you’ll record the date of the occurence, street names, skid marks, and property damage. This would facilitate determining faultiness later on the process.
Exchange important information with those involved
Gather all vehicle information including year, make and model, color, license plate number and vehicle identification number. Get the insurance policy number and the company's phone number, in case the other person doesn't report the accident.