Most accidents are fender benders where no one is injured – but these kinds of accidents can cause almost as much stress as a ten-car pileup if you think you may be at fault. But there are steps you can take after an accident to ensure all parties involved are held responsible, and to ensure filing your claim goes smoothly and easily.
The first thing to do is make sure everyone is safe. Before you start asking for information or laying blame on anyone, you must assess the situation and call 9-1-1 if anyone is injured. In most accidents, the cars will be more damaged than the drivers and passengers. Once you and the other driver have determined that this is the case with your own fender bender, use the following checklist:
What to do after a minor car accident:
- Always move your car out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. That way, you and the other car(s) involved in the accident won’t be a hazard for other drivers.
- Never accept fault. Even when it’s a minor accident and there are no injuries, it’s easy to get rattled. The do’s: Take a deep breath, keep calm, and be polite to the other driver(s). The don’ts: Don’t get angry, don’t apologize, and don’t say anything except the facts.
- Call the police. Yes, it’s a good idea to call 911, even in the case of a minor accident with no injuries. The police report helps sort everything out and it ensures that your case isn’t just the other driver’s words against your own. Even if you don’t file a police report on the spot, some states give you up to 72 hours to file one. Find out if that’s the case in your state.
- Exchange insurance information and contact information. This is an absolute must. Whether you call 911 or you don’t, you need to get this information so you can follow proper procedure and file claims. If you don’t have this information on you, try looking it up on your smartphone. If you have the police there and you don’t have insurance information, you could get a citation. However, some police officers will give you 24 hours to bring your insurance information to a station. Inquire if this is possible for you.
- Don’t sign anything unless it’s for police or an insurance agent.
- Take photos of the damage. If you’re like most people, you probably have a smartphone on you. It’s a great tool for recording the damage on the spot.
- Look for eyewitnesses. Even for a minor accident, eyewitnesses are a great resource that can help your case. If a witness consents, take down their contact information and their brief statement. It can help inform the police report and how your insurance companies deal with the claim.
- Notify your insurance company immediately.
- In some states, you might be required to report the minor accident to the DMV. Contact your local DMV to find out if this is the case for you.
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