Allison climbed into her Suburban, set her purse down on the passenger seat, and hurriedly backed out of her driveway. Already ten minutes late for work, she hoped traffic wouldn’t hold her up any longer. She reached the stop sign at the end of her street and came to a stop, but as soon as she pulled out to make a left turn, she heard the sound of screeching tires and then felt the impact of the crash.
If you found yourself in Allison’s shoes, would you know what to do? Who would you call first? What would you say to the other driver?
Drivers involved in six million crashes in the United States alone each year find themselves in a similar position, sitting in their vehicle immediately following a collision and asking themselves, “What now?” Your team at Feldbruegge Insurance wants to ensure you know exactly what to do and how to get help if you ever find yourself in this frightening position.
Immediately Following the Accident
As soon as you know everybody is okay, call 911 to report that there has been an accident. The dispatcher will likely have questions for you, like:
- Are you hurt?
- Is anyone else at the scene hurt?
- Where are you located?
- Are the vehicles blocking traffic?
Stay on the line with the dispatcher until you’ve answered all questions and followed any instructions that have been provided to you.
Once an officer arrives on the scene, assist with the accident investigation and report by providing the documentation he or she requests (license, registration card, and insurance card) and answering his or her questions accurately and concisely. In your conversation with law enforcement, be careful not to admit guilt or volunteer information that hasn’t been requested of you.
Contact your insurance agent as soon as it’s practical to do so. He or she can make sure you take the appropriate measures in the aftermath of the crash, help you stay calm, and advise you to ensure you don’t incriminate yourself while you work through the next steps at the scene.
Finally, make sure you gather as much information as possible during this small window of opportunity. Ask other drivers for their contact information and insurance card and take pictures of the final resting places of each vehicle involved as well as any damage to vehicles or other property that occurred as a result of the crash. You should also jot down your recollection of the accident as soon as you can; adrenaline can make it difficult to remember details later.
Common Post-Accident Mistakes
In many cases, drivers immediately believe they are at fault for an accident and feel apologetic. They may approach the other driver to apologize and see if they’re okay or let the police officer know how remorseful they are for causing the accident. However, it’s common for both drivers to feel responsibility, and because the dynamics behind an accident are complex, only an investigation can reveal who was at fault. Never admit guilt as it can stop or alter the investigation and leave you liable.
Most importantly, never leave the scene of the accident or elect not to file a police report. It’s critical that the accident is reported and legally documented.
To learn more or find out if we can lower your car insurance premiums, visit us at Feldbruegge Insurance in Abbotsford, Wisconsin, today!
