What to Do After a Car Accident

What to Do After a Car AccidentCar accidents a part of driving, but what do you do after you are involved in one? Here’s what to do after a car accident. 

Humans are terrible drivers: we have terrible attention spans and awful reaction times, especially when travelling at highway speeds. These two defects are at the heart of nearly every accident and can’t really be helped because it’s a part of being human. So knowing what to do during an accident is helpful because one could happen to you at any time. Even if you are the most careful driver in the world, you can’t guarantee that the driver next to you is. Here are some tips on what to do after a traffic accident.

  1. Pull over to the side of the road (if possible). 
    If your cars only suffered minor damage, make sure that you pull over to the side of the road so other drivers can get on with their day. Just because you made a mistake, doesn’t mean that the drivers behind should sit in traffic. If the cars’ damage is extensive, be sure to turn on your hazard lights to let the other drivers know you aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
  2. Check on the other driver and passengers.
    Check on the health of the other driver. If they suffered any damage to their head, call an ambulance as even the smallest head injury could turn fatal.
  3. Gather information
    • License plate number
    • Drivers license number
    • Insurance information
    • Photographic evidence of damage done to both cars
    • Name of the other driver
  4. Call your insurance company.
    Call your insurance company right away and tell them you’ve been in an accident. Provide them with the information of the other driver, so the two insurance companies can determine who will be paying.

The right auto insurance policy on the road is what you need to make sure you are financially protected from human error. Contact insurance experts Perry & Carroll in Elmira, New York for all of your car insurance coverage needs.