No one really likes to think about having an accident with their vehicle, but if you drive, you`re at risk for ending up in a crash, no matter how minor. Luckily, the majority of car accidents are fairly simple and end up only causing minimal damage to the vehicles, but it`s a good idea to know exactly what you should do in the case of a car accident.
1. Check if anyone is injured. Not all injuries will show up right away, but you definitely want to make sure that everyone involved in the car accident is alright. The first concern, if anyone is injured, is to get medical help. You`ll need to stop any bleeding and call 911 to make sure that help is on the way.
2. Divert traffic, if needed. Often, a car accident that immobilizes a vehicle will end up blocking traffic, so it`s a good idea to ensure that there is a way to divert traffic, either with a flare or traffic cones from an emergency kit, or having someone actually wave passing cars around the broken down vehicle. Hazard lights are also a must if they are still functioning.
3. Report the accident. Your car insurance will be useless if you can`t prove that the accident actually happened. So, an accident report should always be filed with the police even in minor fender benders that don`t seem that serious. You`ll need to make repairs and you definitely want the car insurance company to cover it, so make sure that everything is on paper and signed by the police. Stay on the scene until the accident report has been completely filled out.
