According to the latest statistics by the National Safety Council, one in eight licensed drivers is involved in an automobile accident each year. Whether or not you become one of those unfortunate drivers involved in a collision, the following information can help you lessen the headaches and expense of an accident.
Don't leave the scene until you are advised by the police that it is OK to do so. You may be ticketed for "leaving the scene of an accident" if you do.
If it is safe to do so, leave the vehicles until a police report is made. However, if it is unsafe or the vehicles impede the flow of traffic, move operable vehicles to the shoulder, out of the way of oncoming traffic.
Call for medical assistance if there are any injuries. Provide basic first aid, but don't move an injured person unless you possess medical or lifesaving expertise.
In most areas, you are required to call the police. Get the responding officer's name, badge number, police station address, and phone number. Ask when the accident report will be filed, its case and report number, and how you can get a copy. This is especially important if you are "not at fault" in an accident, since your insurance company may ask for a copy of the report to prevent surcharging your policy for an at fault accident. Most state driving reports show only that you were involved in an accident and do not indicate fault. A copy of the police report is generally accepted as proof that you were not at fault in the accident.
Take careful note of the date and time of the accident, the street and city, weather and road conditions, direction and speed you and other drivers were going, and how the accident occurred. If there are any witnesses, get the names, addresses and phone numbers. You should gather this information even if a police report is to be made since you may not have immediate access to the police report. This could speed the settlement of your insurance claim.
Always carry your insurance card and vehicle registration. In many states, it is against the law to drive without these items in your possession.
Keep a list of emergency numbers in the glove compartment at all times. This list should include at least two emergency contacts as well as your physician's name, address and phone number.
Keep a medical card with you if you have allergies to any medicine or you have a condition that requires special attention.
Check your insurance policy or call your agent to see if you have rental car reimbursement coverage. If you don't have this coverage, you may want to consider adding it before you have an accident. For an average just a few dollars per month, rental car reimbursement will pay for the cost of renting a car after an accident while your vehicle is in the repair shop.
If the accident is not your fault, the other party's insurance company may provide you with rental car reimbursement. In most cases, normal qualifications apply to the rented vehicle. For example, many companies will not rent to under aged drivers or drivers with bad driving records. You may be required to have a major credit card, and depending on your state of residence, you may have to provide insurance for the rental car.
