What To Do After A Minor Car Accident (2022 Guide) – Forbes Advisor

In many cases, minor auto collisions should be given the same treatment as you would give to a more severe crash scenario. While it may seem excessive to give the same time and attention to a fender bender as you would to an accident that totals your car, it is critical to have a detailed record of what happened — beginning with proper documentation at the scene of the accident.

Check for Injuries

The first thing to do after a collision, even a minor one, is to check yourself and your passengers for injury. If anyone is hurt, call 911 and get medical assistance from first responders at the scene.

Even if you don’t immediately think anyone was hurt, you can’t rule out the possibility at this stage. The impact from a minor accident causes an adrenaline spike that could mask a pain response, and injuries that are not immediately apparent could begin presenting symptoms in the hours or days after the collision.

Because of this, it is important not to say things like “I’m not hurt” in statements to law enforcement or insurance adjusters until you, your passengers and your vehicle have been fully evaluated.

Get to a Safe Location

The first thing to do after a collision is to get yourself and your passengers to a safe location. If your car is drivable and causing a potential road hazard in its current location, pull over to one side of the road. If it is not safe to drive your car, move yourself and your passengers to the side of the road or a sidewalk nearby.

Document the Accident: Collect Photographic Evidence

After assessing potential injuries and getting to safety, begin collecting evidence of the crash. This can be important in determining who bears the majority — or all — of the fault.

Be sure to get photos of all vehicles involved from many different angles. Include license plates, close up and distanced photos of any visible damage, as well as photos of the surrounding streets and scene of the incident.

If any injuries are apparent, it’s a good idea to collect photographic evidence of those as well.

Call 911 and File an Accident Report

Always call law enforcement to the scene of a car accident, regardless of how minor it may seem. If it is an emergency, dial 911. If there are no apparent injuries and an ambulance is not needed, let the dispatcher know they only need to send a police officer to the scene. You may also choose to call a non-emergency services line to do this. The important thing is getting an officer on site to write up an accident report.

Do not agree if the other driver makes suggestions or demands to skip this step, keep the incident off the record or tries to provide a cash incentive to let them leave the scene early. A car accident police report can protect your legal rights — both personally and with insurance companies, who are not likely to cover damages without an official report.

Exchange Contact and Insurance Information

Calmly and professionally initiate trading contact and insurance information with the other driver as soon as you can safely do so. You will want to ask for their full name, address, a contact phone number and their insurance information, which includes the company name of their insurance provider, its phone number and their policy number. If possible, ask for contact information for any passengers in the other vehicle in the event they will need to provide on-the-record statements later.

Provide a Statement

The law enforcement officer will need to collect statements from all drivers involved in the collision, as well as statements from passengers and witnesses. Document witness names and contact information for your own records, if possible.

Even if you feel partially or fully to blame, you should not apologize for the accident or admit any fault. The officer will investigate the scene and form their own opinion of what happened based on the facts and other evidence.

Once the police statement is complete, ask for the officer’s name, badge number, phone number and police report number so you can easily obtain the records if you need them.

Stay at the Scene Until Cleared to Leave

It is a criminal offense to leave the scene of a car accident before law enforcement arrives unless your injuries require you to be taken by ambulance to receive urgent medical treatment. Remain with your vehicle in all other circumstances and wait to be dismissed by the law enforcement officer after they have completed their report.

Notify Your Auto Insurer

Call your car insurance company right away and provide all the information you have documented about the accident. This is an essential step, regardless of which driver is at-fault, because it can protect you from potential claims against you that the other driver may make.

Note that it is not optional to call your insurance company: auto insurance providers require policyholders to immediately report any accident they are involved in when the event could require coverage. Each company has a certain amount of time in which this is required. Failure to report an accident — even a minor car accident — could result in cancellation of your policy.

From here, you can begin the claims process if you wish to pursue recovery for any car damages or other personal injury.