Car accident what do to

Also, resist discussing any potential injuries. Even in a fender bender, those can take hours or days after to manifest. Have similar information for loved ones and pets on hand or easily available. That prevents you from saying anything that could get used against you later. Holeman provides this list of what you should collect for insurance claims:.

Be sure to take pictures or video of any damage to both cars, talk to witnesses, write all you can remember about what happened, or even record with audio or video details. Also, document injuries, road and weather, and anything else you believe contributed to the accident.

If you have a mobile device, note-taking apps or insurance company mobile apps can be helpful in documenting accident details. A good mobile app can be critical because, besides documenting the accident details, your insurer may be able to send a tow truck and provide rental car options via the app.

Later, save bills and medical records from the accident, since you might need them for claims or court. Many insurers have been improving their virtual car insurance claims process, especially during the pandemic. That process depends on where you live, since 18 states have no-fault insurance laws , and require that you have personal injury protection PIP on your policy to pay medical bills for injuries related to the accident, loss of income and other expenses no matter who is at fault.

In states without no-fault laws, insurers use different methods to determine who is at fault. For example, in some states your claim amount is reduced by your percentage of fault.

Dahna Chandler is an award-winning business and finance journalist with over 20 years of experience writing for major media outlets. She is passionate about helping wealth-minded people thrive financially by reaching their wealth objectives. Follow her at getmoneymoxie. Select Region. United States. United Kingdom. Dahna Chandler, Amy Danise. Contributor, Editor. And New Hampshire strongly recommends carrying it.

Both of those liability coverages are intended to reimburse another driver or their passengers if you are at fault in an accident. Your regular health insurance will help, too. Whether it makes sense to file a claim can depend on:. If you plan to file a claim, then get in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident.

Your insurance company will assign an adjuster to your case, and that person will assess any damages or injuries to determine how much the insurer will pay to cover the claim. Some insurance companies require that you pay the deductible before any repairs can be made or claims paid out.

If your rates do go up after an accident, then you may want to compare coverage from other companies to see if you can find a better deal. Insurance Information Institute. Car Insurance. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Investopedia. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Your Money. Personal Finance. Your Practice. Popular Courses. Insurance Car Insurance.

Table of Contents Expand. Remain Calm. Even if you don't think you've been injured, be extra careful when getting out of your car, especially if the accident took place on a highway or busy street.

You may not be thinking logically, which could put you in danger. While it's important to report the accident, in some areas the police may not respond to a minor collision, Luna says. If police arrive, note the officer's name, badge number and contact information.

Be sure to get a copy of the accident report from the officer. If the police do not come, you can request a copy of the report from the law enforcement office, or through the insurance adjuster handling your claim. Use your cellphone camera to take pictures of documents or, with pen and paper, get the name, address, phone number and driver's license number of everyone involved in the accident.

If the driver's name doesn't match up with the car's registration or insurance papers, detemine the person's relationship to the vehicle's owner. Then, gather all vehicle information including year, make and model, color, license plate number and vehicle identification number.

Get the insurance policy number and the company's phone number, in case the other person doesn't report the accident, Luna suggests. See if any witnesses are willing to provide you with contact information and details about what they saw.

Never share your Social Security number, the coverage limits on your insurance policy or other personal information. Record as much detail about the accident as possible using your smartphone's camera , video and voice memo features, Luna advises.

It's easiest to do that by taking a photo of the entire car and close-up photos of the damages for both your car and the other party. Record the date and time of the accident, and photograph or video the entire scene of the accident, including skid marks or property damage.

Note street names and the direction each vehicle was heading both before and after the accident. Sketch a diagram of the crash scene. Using the voice memo app on your phone, dictate what happened while the details are still fresh in your mind.

Include information about the weather and visibility. A few years ago, Denise Schipani, 54, and her son were stopped at a traffic light near her home in Huntington Station, New York, when a car slammed into theirs from behind. Turns out the back window had shattered. We were shaking, but no one was hurt. Schipani correctly chose not to argue. Emotions can run high after a car accident, so if you believe the other driver is impaired or aggressive, trust your instincts, Luna advises.

Depending on how much damage your car sustained, it may need to be towed to a collision repair center, Luna says. Many people have motor club memberships, and roadside assistance is one of the benefits. The police may call a tow truck company, and some car manufacturers offer driver assistance programs, too.

Don't assume a tow truck that magically shows up at the crash is reputable; always verify its credentials and take down all contact information, Luna adds. While it may be tempting to negotiate a cash deal to avoid making an insurance claim, not notifying your insurance company after a crash can leave you liable for damages stemming from the accident.