Follow the below tips to ensure that all the necessary
steps are taken in correctly collecting the information
that your car insurance company will need for your accident
claim.
Prepare in Advance.
It’s best to prepare in advance and become familiar
with the laws and reporting requirements of the state in which
you drive regularly. Some states require that you report accidents
to the local Motor Vehicle Administration. Be sure to have
an accident packet in your car. It should contain a pen, paper
and accident report forms. Most insurance companies provide
these forms or you can obtain state accident forms from your
local or State Police.
When a car accident occurs do the following:
1. Remain calm and stop the car;
2. Shut off the engine and put parking brakes on;
3. Assist the injured. Call the police and EMT if anyone is
injured or the vehicle is disabled;
4. Clear persons from the area if you smell gas or the
car is on fire and call the fire department;
5. In a minor accident of property damage only, put hazard
lights on and drive vehicles to the side or off the road
to a safe location. Most police departments encourage parties
to resolve minor fender bender situations without their
help but will respond if the accident is on a public road;
6. Set up flares or reflective triangles in the rear and
to the side of the car accident;
7. Exchange driver and car insurance information;
8. Get the names of the persons in the cars and potential
witnesses’ name and address as soon as possible;
9. If an officer is called, and an accident report is written,
ask when and where you can obtain a copy. Your car insurance
company will ask to see a copy.
Your car insurance company will need you to collect the
following information at the scene:
1. Car information of the other parties;
Year, make, model and license plate number of the other
car.
2. Driver information;
Name, address, phone number, driver’s date of birth,
driver license number and state issued.
3. Vehicle owner information (if different from
the driver);
Name, address, phone number of the vehicle owner. If the
driver is not the owner of the car, be sure to obtain the
car insurance information of the vehicle involved in the
accident and not the driver’s own car.
4. Car Insurance information;
Car insurance company, insurance policy holder’s name,
car insurance policy number, expiration date, and car insurance
company address. If the other driver is uninsured, get as
much information as you can and call the police for further
instructions.
5. Witnesses;
Name, address, phone number.
6. Attending police officer’s name &
business card;
7. Photos of the car accident if you have a camera
at hand;
8. As soon as you can, write down details such
as: time of the accident, weather conditions, visibility
conditions, pavement conditions, sky lighting conditions,
color of traffic lights, signs on the streets, approximate
speed of the vehicles and sequence of events. Draw a sketch
of the street and note the direction each person was driving
as soon as you can. Write down description of the collective
damage and each car’s damage, bodily injuries and
property damage.
What NOT to do in a car accident:
Car insurance companies suggest that you do not talk about
who is a fault with the other driver. Also do not admit fault
or apologize.
You may give the officer an account of the circumstances and
the accident but preferably not in the presence of other persons.
No one may force you to give details of the accident or admit
blame and you have the right to see your attorney before making
any statements. If the accident is serious, consult your attorney
as soon as possible.
Get
Car Insurance Quotes