Being involved in a car accident can be scary but it is important to remember the steps you need to take to ensure everyone’s safety, follow the law and notify your insurance carrier.
Step 1: Check yourself for injuries
If you are injured, call 911 or ask someone else to call on your behalf.
Step 2: Check on your passengers
If you are not too injured to move, check on the other passengers in your vehicle and call 911 if necessary.
Step 3: Get to Safety
If your vehicle is safe to drive, move it to the side of the road to avoid causing a hazard. If not, leave the vehicle where it is and move you and your passengers to safety.
Step 4: Contact the Authorities
Even if the accident is a minor fender-bender, calling the police is important as the officers will fill out an accident report and document the scene.
Step 5: Wait for help
Turn your vehicle off and turn on your hazard lights to warn other vehicles of the accident.
Step 6: Exchange information
Make sure to get the other driver’s information. See below for a list of basic information that should be gathered in the event of a vehicle accident.
- Full name
- Contact information
- Insurance company and policy number
- Driver?s license number
- License plate number
- Year, Make, Model of vehicle
- Location of the accident
Step 7: Document the accident
This is important to protect yourself and will be of great value during the claims process.
- Get the name and badge numbers for any responding police officers
- Ask the responding police officers for a copy of the accident report
- Take multiple pictures of your vehicle and any other vehicles involved
- Gather names and contact info for any other parties involved, like passengers in the other vehicle or witnesses.
Step 8: Notify your insurance carrier
As soon as you are able, contact your insurance agent to report the accident. Many people do not know that timely reporting of claims is an insurance policy requirement. At Glenwood Insurance Agency, we will gather accident information from you and submit the claim to your carrier on your behalf. We can also help you throughout the claims process to ensure that you and your vehicle are back on the road as soon as possible.
