Ending up in a car accident is definitely one of the least pleasant experiences that you wish you never go through. However even if you are a very safe and defensive driver it doesn’t free you from the risk of having some trouble on the road. There are other drivers too and you can’t be fully sure that they are as good as you. So knowing how to act after the accident has taken place is a must not only for those who have had previous car crash experience but also for those who think they are perfect drivers. This way you can avoid unnecessary risk and also make it a lot more easier to process the claim for your auto insurance company.

1. First stop your car and see if any of your passengers or the people in the other car are injured.
2. Get in touch with the police or highway patrol to report about the accident. Describe the types of injuries and the exact number of people hurt during the accident both in your car and the other vehicle. No need to call the ambulance in this case because the police will call the nearest available medical unit themselves.
3. It is important to keep an injured person warm so cover them with a blanket or anything else available for that purpose.
4. Try to reduce the risk of producing a new accident on the site. Take steps to warn the other drivers about the accident by setting up flares, triangles and turning on your hazard lights, so they could have some time to switch and avoid running into the scene on full speed. If the accident has taken place on a busy part of the road it would be better to take the car off the road and call a tow truck.
5. Your insurance company will most likely require you to provide a copy of the police report concerning the accident. So it is better for you to ask the officer directly at the site rather than trying to get a copy in the police department afterwards.
6. You might want to tow the car to a repair shop to get it fixed as soon as possible. However, remember that most insurance companies will require their adjuster to examine and evaluate all the damage before the work is done.
7. It is always better to keep a notepad and a pencil or a pen in your glove compartment, because there will be some things you should note right on the site:
   • the contacts (names, addresses, phone numbers) of all the persons involved in the accident.
   • license plate numbers
   • the model and make of all the vehicles involved
   • license numbers of all drivers
   • insurance identifications
   • the contacts of witnesses
   • the contacts and badge numbers of police officers presented on the site.
8. In case you hit an unattended vehicle or object, make sure you’ve done everything to find its owner. If you’re unsuccessful leave a note with your full name, phone number and address so that the owner can find it for sure. Write down the accident in full detail.