When Greg Hamblin was in a car accident on Interstate 215 in Las Vegas three years ago, he was driving in evening rush-hour traffic. He was rear-ended by a car going about 40 mph and suddenly sandwiched between two vehicles. Though nobody was hurt, it was a terrifying moment.
[See: 10 Unexpected Costs of Driving.]
Hamblin is the director of marketing at Clear Counsel Law Group in Henderson, Nevada. He has written dozens of articles about what to do after a car accident. “Yet here I was, sitting in my wrecked car, unable to think of anything,” he says.
Hamblin’s car collision story, of course, is just one of many from those who are mystified about how to handle a car accident. There were 6,296,000 police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States in 2015, according to the most recent numbers reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2015, there were 32,539 deaths from car crashes; in 2016, there were 34,439 deaths due to car crashes, according to NHTSA. And while a fender bender is often thought of as a nuisance, it’s also a financial burden. If you find yourself in an auto accident, follow these steps.
Pull Over and Call 911
If you can, get out of the line of traffic and don’t forget to turn on your hazard lights. If there’s any chance somebody is hurt, or you’re worried about possible damage to either vehicle, call the police immediately. Even if there is minimal damage and no injuries, and you’ve exchanged insurance information to let insurance companies handle who pays for damages, it never hurts to make a call.
Matt Greenberg, an attorney with Nabers Law Firm in Houston, recommends calling 911 to document the accident. “Even if you think you’re at fault, call the police,” he advises.
Greenberg was in a chain-reaction cash in February 2017, in which one person slammed on his brakes, affecting two cars behind him. “In my wreck, people didn’t want to call the police, but you just need to. The officer may give you a citation, but that’s a small price to pay to get a record of exactly what happened. The officer should take statements and write up a report. That report, even if you’re at fault, can help defend against claims from the other drivers,” Greenberg says.
Exchange Car Insurance Information
Even if you don’t call police, make sure to exchange car insurance information. Your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company need each other’s contact information to decide who pays for the damages.
[See: Basic Money Lessons You (Probably) Missed in High School.]
Get a Police Report
Filing a police report right away is ideal, but you may be able to file a report later on if you didn’t contact 911 immediately after the accident. While the law varies from state to state, many police departments allow reports to be filed up to 72 hours following an accident. But if both cars have left the scene, the information won’t be as accurate. Some states require you to report an accident, and you could be cited if you didn’t. For instance, in Oregon, if damage to the vehicle you were driving is more than $2,500, you need to file a report. In Ohio, as long as nobody was hurt, you don’t have to call the police. Unless you know your state laws well, it’s best to call and file a report.
If Necessary, Report the Accident to the DMV
While you don’t have to file a police report in some states, others require motorists to report car wrecks to the bureau or department of motor vehicles, depending on how much damage was done to the car. Check with your state’s DMV or BMV to see if you need to file a report.
Make Small Talk
It’s best to not get out of the car and take complete ownership of the accident, even if you believe you were at fault. If you were responsible for the accident, tell the truth, but stick to the facts and don’t offer your opinion, until you’ve proceed everything.
“An investigation of fault will be determined once all the information is received by both parties,” says Sandra Cavoto, owner of Cavoto Insurance Agency in Chicago. She also cautions about discussing any injuries.
“Even someone asking if you are OK can often be used against you, if you are later not feeling well,” Cavoto says. “The best answer to the question, ‘Are you OK?’ is, ‘Only my doctor can assess my health situation,'” Cavoto says.
Take Photos and Gather Witnesses
If you have a smartphone, it’s a wise idea to take photos of the scene, including pictures of your car and the other car, license plates, the street view and any signage, Cavoto says. This can be especially helpful if you know you weren’t at fault and want evidence to prove it.
“Doing this quickly avoids issues of having to recall the location, direction and overall situation,” Cavoto says. “If there are any witnesses to the crash, get their name and number as well,” she advises. That way, you can provide eyewitness information to your insurance company and the police.
As soon as possible, it’s critical to file a claim with your insurance agency.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Being in a car wreck, even if it’s just a minor fender bender, can be extremely stressful. So, if you feel like you said the wrong thing to the driver in the aftermath, or you didn’t take photos, it’s not the end of the world. And chances are, the other driver didn’t do everything right either.
“No matter how prepared you are, you’re going to feel disoriented,” Hamblin says. “Be prepared for that and stay calm,” he says.
[See: How to Save Money By Ditching Your Car.]
As long as you get the other driver’s insurance information, that’s the important thing. If you don’t have those details, you’ll have little chance of the other driver’s insurance company paying for any damages. Plus, you may not have any luck with your own insurance paying for damages, if they can’t contact the other driver’s insurer. So, trade insurance information, and if you make a misstep elsewhere, don’t stress. After all, details around fender benders — just like the fenders themselves — eventually tend to get straightened out.
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7 Steps to Take After a Car Accident originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 07/03/18: This story was originally published on Dec. 17, 2013, and has been updated to include new information.
