“I had an accident!”

Did you just have to call your mom or dad, your spouse, or someone else in your circle to let them know you were involved in a car crash?

It happens to almost everyone at some point. No matter how careful you are out on the road, the average driver is involved in a car accident about once every 18 years. That averages out to several car accidents throughout the course of a person’s life.

So don’t panic! Getting into a car crash is not the end of the world.

Instead of freaking out about it, make sure you know what to do in the moments after a car accident occurs. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you respond to a car crash accordingly.

Step 1: Stop Driving Immediately and Assess the Situation

If you’re ever involved in a car accident, the first thing you should do is stop driving and shut off your vehicle.

Regardless of whether you were involved in a minor fender-bender or a major crash, the last thing you want to do is speed away from the scene. You could end up getting hit with a slew of legal charges if you drive away from an accident.

If you weren’t injured too badly in the crash, you can get out of your vehicle and assess the damage done to both your car and the other car involved in the accident. You can also assess any damage done to guardrails, poles, and anything else that may have been involved in the accident.

Step 2: Contact the Police and Inform Them of the Accident

As soon as an accident takes place, you should pick up your phone and call the police. The goal is to get police officers on the scene as quickly as possible.

In many cases, police will need to work to reroute traffic in the area of an accident to prevent a pileup. They’ll also want to try and clear up an accident scene as fast as they can to stop it from causing a major traffic jam.

Don’t put off calling the police after an accident. At the very least, you’ll want them to come and provide you with a full report of what happened for auto insurance purposes.

Step 3: Tell the Police What Happened When They Arrive on the Scene

Once the police show up at the scene of your car accident, they’ll pull you aside and talk to you about what happened. They do this to put together a report that you can use later for insurance and legal purposes.

You and others involved in an accident will all get the opportunity to tell your side of the story. Be as open and honest with a police officer about what took place prior to and during the crash.

It’s never a good idea to admit that you caused a crash. But you should tell the truth and give your perspective on how and why the accident happened.

Step 4: Take Photographs of the Aftermath of the Accident

If you have the opportunity to do it, it’s good to snap some photos of an accident scene.

Attempt to take photos of:

• Any damage done to your car
• Any damage done to the other car(s)
• Any damage done to guardrails, poles, etc. in the area
• Any skid marks that might be left behind on the ground due to braking on the part of you or the other driver
• Any other evidence on the scene that could help you build a case for yourself in the event your accident lands you in a legal bind

You might not need the photos later. But it never hurts to have them handy!

Step 5: Exchange Car Insurance Information With the Other Driver

At this point, if your vehicle is driveable, the police will tell you that you can leave the scene. If it’s not, they’ll help you tow it away to clear the road.

But before you drive your car away or have it towed, it’s important to exchange insurance information with the other driver. Your insurance company is going to need this information to start processing a claim for you.

Step 6: Touch Base With Your Car Insurance Company About the Accident

You’ve spoken with police about your accident and received a report about it. You’ve taken photos of the accident scene and exchanged insurance information with others involved in the crash.

Now, it’s time to get in touch with your car insurance company to file a claim. In some cases, you can do this right online, while in others, you’ll need to call them for your claim to go through.

Either way, you shouldn’t put off speaking with your insurance company. Contact them within a few hours of your crash and say, “I had an accident.” They’ll talk to you about what happened and walk you through the steps of putting in a claim for the crash.

Step 7: Visit a Hospital to Be Evaluated for Injuries

Were you hurt during your car accident?

If you sustained bad injuries, you obviously won’t want to wait until this step to get them checked out. Feel free to take a trip to the hospital much sooner to be evaluated.

But if your injuries were relatively minor, you might want to wait a little bit to visit the hospital. Often times, injuries sustained in a car accident, like back and neck pain, won’t present themselves until hours after a crash.

Whatever the case, you should strongly consider visiting a hospital at some point to get checked out. Your insurance company will usually foot the bill for you, depending on what kind of policy you have in place.

Step 8: Retain the Services of a Car Accident Lawyer, If Necessary

There is a chance your car crash could land you in court if you are found to be at fault for it. The other driver could take you to court to try to collect money from you to pay for car repairs and/or medical bills.

If you ever find yourself in this position, you’ll want to secure the services of a reputable car accident lawyer. Search for the right car accident lawyers in your area and hire them to represent you.

Don’t Let “I Had an Accident!” Keep You Down

The next time you find yourself saying, “I had an accident,” try your best to keep your cool.

Car accidents are, unfortunately, a part of life for drivers and something everyone deals with at one time or another. By reacting in the right way and following the steps listed here, you can make the situation a lot less stressful on yourself.

Check out our blog to learn other useful tips for life.