What to Do When You Get in a Car Accident

It is important to know what to do when you get in a car accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 5.8 million crashes in 2008. Let’s say you’ve somehow managed to get in a car accident.  Maybe someone wasn’t paying attention and rear-ended you.  Maybe the road was slick and you slid into someone.  Or maybe someone wasn’t paying attention, blew through a red light and t-boned you or hit you head on.  Chances are you’re going to be shaking, shocked, scared, and perhaps injured.  What on earth do you do? Here are five things you need to know to do when you get in a car accident:

1. Get out of your car. First, stop and get out of your car. While you may say “Duh,” it’s important—there may be damage to your car or someone else’s car that you can’t see. When you stop, pull over to the right side of the road as far as you can, but as close to the accident site as possible. Make sure you’re not hurt, and then see if anyone else is hurt. You do not want to be cited for a hit and run, or for leaving the scene of a car accident.
2. Police. Second, call the police. Yes, really. Why? Because insurance companies, including your own, will believe a police report over what you—or anyone else—reports. It protects you in the future by making it harder for someone to sue you for something they claimed happened that did not, and by having an official and unbiased recording of what happened. When talking to the police, though, do not admit that you might have been at fault or responsible in any way. Just say what happened, and do not try to assign blame. You are a lot more believable that way, and that matters.
3. Insurance. Third, call your insurance company immediately and tell them what happened. Again, do not admit fault or try to assign blame—just tell your insurance company what happened. Insurance companies almost always record your statement, so make sure it is completely accurate. And if your insurance company calls back for more information, make sure you get back to them promptly. Remember that it’s not personal to the insurance company—it is what they do all day, every day.
4. Silence. Fourth, don’t talk about the details of the car accident with anyone until your insurance company says it is OK. Sure, you can tell friends, family, and colleagues that you were in an car accident, but don’t be too detailed—what you say could come back to bite you if someone sues you.
5. Repair. Finally, get your car fixed.  Another one that may be obvious, but a surprising number of people don’t ever get the damage fixed. If someone else was at fault, it’s their insurance that is on the hook—make them fix it, and fix it properly. You don’t even have to cover your deductible if the other party is at fault. You can ask your insurance company for recommendations on where to have your car fixed. If you were at fault, still get it fixed—you have to pay the deductible, but your rates are most likely going up no matter what.

            So there you have it—now you know what to do when you get in a car accident. Hopefully, you'll never need this information...ever.