Always stop- that is the law for car accidents. Even if you think there wasn’t damage, you need to stop. If you or someone has been injured, call emergency services- or ask a bystander to call for help. If whomever is injured is able to move without risking further injury, get to safety.
If not, wait for emergency services, and protect yourself by using your car’s hazard lights and road flares, if you have them. Get to safety – if your car is safe to drive and is in the way of traffic, move over to the side of the road or somewhere that’s safe.
Stay calm and assess the situation. Take a deep breath, then check the scene to see if anyone is injured or in imminent danger. If you smell gasoline or see smoke, move as far away as safety allows. Do not attempt to put out a fire yourself. Call 911 for help with any apparent injuries or hazards (such as a fire). Seek safety. Resist the urge to confront or swap information with the other driver(s) immediately. Instead, quickly get yourself and others out of harm’s way. If your car is driveable, move it to the shoulder or an emergency lane.
In general, insurance companies are required to do the following:
You should dial 911 immediately for emergency assistance if someone is hurt and needs medical attention. You should also call the police if cars or debris are in dangerous positions that could put other drivers at risk. Even if there are no injuries, it can still be a good idea to contact police after a crash to take statements at the accident scene, interview witnesses, and write a formal police report. A police officer can also help keep the peace if the other driver is uncooperative.
Filing a police report may not be legally required in your state, but insurance companies will likely request a copy if you file a claim.
Yes, you should prepare for your insurance to get more expensive if you get into a car accident. Insurance companies set your rates based on factors that give them an idea whether you’re likely to make a future claim or not. After you’re in an accident and made a claim, you’re viewed as more likely to make another. On average, one at-fault accident increases rates by $832 per year, or 48%. Your rates will generally go down after three to five years of safe driving, though. And you may want to shop around for new car insurance after an accident just to see if another company can offer you cheaper rates.
Driver License or Identification Card Changes
Once you have moved the cars (if appropriate) and/or sought medical attention for those injured, write down or photograph: the license plate number of every other vehicle involved in the accident, the year, make, model and color of the other vehicle(s), and if possible, the other vehicle(s)’ vehicle identification number (vin). You will need this information in order to report the accident as legally required to the california dmv. The vin is usually listed on a driver’s insurance card and registration. But it is a good idea to confirm it physically, especially if the driver is uninsured. Do not, however, attempt to get the vin number from the other driver’s vehicle if the driver won’t cooperate.
Once it’s been determined that you, the other driver, and all passengers are safe, exchange contact and insurance information. Ask to see the other driver’s license and insurance card. If you are provided the wrong information, the insurance provider will have trouble completing your claim. You’ll need all of the following information to correctly file a claim: full legal name contact information, including address and phone number make, model and color of the other driver’s car driver’s license number insurance company and policy number
it’s important to gather information about the other driver involved in the accident. Some key pieces of information you should exchange include: full names and contact information, like phone numbers insurance information, such as company name and policy numbers driver’s licenses and license plate numbers location of the accident type, make and model of your car and the other vehicle involved in the accident according to the insurance information institute (iii), you should avoid discussing who is at fault for the accident at this time. 3 this is typically handled by insurance companies.