When you find yourself in a car accident, everything can get hazy.  Whether you’re physically injured or not, the shock that occurs following something as frightening as a vehicle collision is enough to leave people feeling in an almost dream-like state.  Unfortunately, as a result, a lot of people wind up making mistakes throughout the process.  Since it’s such a delicate situation, it’s important that you do things right.

Since you can be so discombobulated as a reaction to the stress, it’s helpful to have a list of what you should do onhand.   Take a look at your handy step-by-step list of what you should do after getting in an accident. 

Check For Injuries

First thing is first, you’ll need to ensure that you don’t have any physical injuries.  Make sure that you check yourself and anyone else in your car for injuries.  If you realize that you or someone else in the car is hurt, put everything else on hold.  The most important thing is your well-being.  Dial emergency services immediately or ask someone nearby to do so.

Move Your Car

If you can, move your car out of the way of other vehicles and into safety.  Often people leave their cars in a hazardous place after a collision, and it winds up causing another accident.  If it’s not possible to move your car then ideally you should at least move yourself.

Call The Police

Even if your accident is nothing other than a fender bender, you should call the police to create an accident report.  An officer will interview everyone involved in the accident and write it all down.  They’ll chart out what occurred in the accident, providing documentation for the event.

When you make a claim with your insurance company, they’ll refer to the police report to help with the process.

Get The Other Drivers Information

It’s important that you get the contact information of the other driver.  Make sure that you get not only their name and phone number but also everything about their vehicle.  Take a photo of their license and license plate, as well as any damage to their car.

If they’re a responsible driver, they’ll have their insurance company and policy number with them to provide you with as well.

Don’t Incriminate Yourself

Often when people experience a traumatic event like a car accident, they assume it’s their fault, particularly if the other driver is angry.  Don’t apologize or admit fault whatsoever unless it was undoubtedly your fault.  However, as a general rule of thumb, you should avoid discussing details with the other driver.  Let your insurance handle it.

Call Your Insurance Company

Once you’ve done all of these steps, you can call your insurance company to notify them of the accident.  They’ll start a claim and tell you exactly what you need to do.

Conclusion

By having this list onhand, you’ll be sure to make sure that you don’t forget any critical steps.  That way, you can rest assured that you have the right information with you should anything happen while driving.