What to Do In An Accident
IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT, BE PREPARED
It’s always a good idea to have warning triangles or emergency flares in your trunk to warn other drivers of your accident. In addition, always keep your insurance information, medical information, and a pen and paper handy.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING YOUR ACCIDENT
- Check for injuries, dialling 911 if necessary.
- Engage your vehicle’s hazard lights, moving to a safe location if possible. Set up warning cones or flares to prevent further incidents.
- Immediately notify the police, even if the accident is minor. A police report is critical in determining who is at fault in an accident. By having a police report, it can save you from issues down the line with the other party in the collision or insurance companies.
- Be sure to document the names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails of all the occupants of both vehicles, including the driver.
- Gather similar information from any witnesses.
- Exchange insurance information with the driver of the other vehicle, including company name and policy number. Do not admit fault. Be kind and courteous, but try to state only the facts without implicating yourself.
- Take pictures of any damage to both your vehicle and the other party’s vehicle or property. In addition to this, take pictures of the scene of the accident (skid marks, vehicle positions, debris in road). Also be sure to take pictures of the license plates of the vehicles involved, as well as any location identifiers (like street signs).
