There is an auto collision, on average, every eight seconds on the roads in the United States. These accidents range from minor fender benders to incredibly severe multi-vehicle pileups and happen much too often. In fact, if you drive in the United States, some sort of collision is all but inevitable. Because of the frequency of these collisions, it’s essential that all drivers know exactly what to do following a roadway collision.
Because you likely don’t remember learning what to do after a car accident in your high school driver’s education class, we’ve put together a refresher.
Get to safety
This is the single most important thing you can do after a car accident. No matter the circumstances or severity of the crash, the first thing you need to do is get yourself to safety. Once you’ve done that, you can assess the damage to your vehicle and determine whether other drivers or passengers require assistance. In the same way that airlines tell you to put on your own oxygen mask first, your number one priority after a car accident should be getting yourself out of harm’s way, and fast.
Call emergency responders
If the damage to the involved vehicles seems minor and no one is in immediate pain or danger, you probably don’t need to call 911. Most police officers will resent being called to a minor fender bender, which can usually be resolved amicably between responsible drivers. However, if the damages are severe, if the roadway is obstructed, if another driver leaves the scene, and especially if anyone has been injured, call 911 after following step one. In addition to getting ambulatory care for any injured drivers or arranging safety measures to divert traffic, police officers will create an official report that can prove to be invaluable in the weeks to come. You might need a police report to file a claim with your insurance company.
Take pictures of everything
Again, if you can do so safely, get out of your car and photograph everything. Take pictures of your vehicle, the other vehicle (or vehicles) involved, the nearby street signs, the houses nearby, the time of day, and everything else that might be important later on. If you end up having to go to court, for instance, you’ll want all this info documented.
Exchange insurance and contact info
After you address the damage to your vehicle, make sure you talk with the other driver involved in the crash. Since these accidents happen all the time, hopefully everyone will be understanding and friendly. Get the name, address, telephone, and insurance information of everyone involved in the collision.
Visit a trusted car body shop
Following the aftermath of the collision, it’s time to visit a professional car body shop and get your vehicle back to looking good and functioning properly. Hopefully, the damage wasn’t too severe so you won’t need a tow truck to get you to the auto body shop. Once you get there, discuss with the experienced technicians what you need done. These repair and paint shops can fix up any structural damage following a collision as well as provide a fresh coat of paint. After visiting a reputable auto body shop, your car will likely look good as new. Even better, your insurance provider may cover some or all of the costs associated with these repairs. Talk to your auto body shop to know for sure.
Make sure you’re driving as safe as possible at all times on the roadways. Of course, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll need to follow this advice and visit a local car body shop.
