No matter how careful and skilled you are as a driver, chances are good that at some point you will be involved in an auto accident. If you are in your 20’s statically, you will probably have on before you turn 30. While there is not much that you can do to avoid an auto accident, there are a number of things to do before, during and after the accident to make certain you are prepared.
You should keep a number of items in your car at all times not just in the event of an auto accident, but general safety. These items include the following
- Pens, pencils, and pads for writing down information
- A flashlight, flares, or a reflective safety triangle.
- A first aide kit, blanket, paper towels.
- Jumper cables and simple hand tools such as pliers and a screwdriver.
If you are involved in an auto accident, you should first check yourself and others for injuries, if it’s safe to exit the car, you should get out as soon as possible. Then you should call 911 to alert authorities and report injuries or obstructions in the roadway.
At the scene of the auto accident, you should exchange name, address and insurance information with everyone involved. You should also try to obtain contact information with people who witnessed the accident. Don’t forget to also write down the make and model of the autos involved in the accident and the number of passengers in each car. It is also helpful to get the name of the officer to takes the report and the report number so you can provide this information to your insurance company. Also keep in mind that it is very important to not admit fault at the accident scene, such admissions will only complicate matters later on.
As soon as you get home you should contact your insurance agency and report the auto accident. Provide them with all the information that you collected at the scene and provide them with as much detail as possible about the accident such as time of day, road conditions, possible causes of the auto accident, etc. Finally, if anyone was injured in the accident, no matter how minor, be certain to report this to the insurance company.
