Michigan motorists gear up for hike in car insurance read more
What To Do When An Accident Is Not Your Fault
August 27th, 2010
Being involved in a traffic accident can be a traumatic experience whether you caused the accident or not, even if no one was injured. The sickening "crunch" sound created when part of your car is damaged is almost surreal, and when the initial shock wears off and you realize you weren't dreaming, you need to know what to do next. The last thing anyone wants to worry about at that point is whether they will be able to fix the damage. Luckily, free car insurance quotes are easy to get so everyone can have coverage even if their vehicle is damaged through no fault of their own.
The first step to take in case of an auto accident actually needs to happen before the accident does: you need to have car insurance in force that meets the required minimum coverage limits before you even start the car, and you need to always carry proof of your insurance with you. Beyond that, the first thing to do after an accident is to stay calm and assess whether anyone is injured. If there are injuries, call 911 immediately for help or ask someone else to make the call right away.
If no one has been injured but your vehicle is still in the flow of traffic and poses a danger to other drivers, pull off to the side of the road if possible to avoid any additional injuries or damage (if it can be done safely, take pictures before any vehicles are moved). Also, immediately note the license plate number of any other vehicles involved to avoid the possibility of their leaving the scene unidentified.
Next, call 911 to report the accident to the police if they haven't already been called. Don't discuss the accident with other people at the scene or admit fault, but note if others admit or acknowledge fault. While you're waiting for the police to arrive, get the name, address, phone number, vehicle description and insurance information for any other vehicles and drivers, including insurance policy numbers and the insurance agent's name and phone number if possible. Also get full contact information from any passengers or witnesses at the scene of the accident. Then report the accident to your insurance company.
Remember, car accidents are called accidents because no one intended for them to happen, and they happen all the time to people through no fault of their own. Don't let not having insurance add even more stress to an already stressful situation– the time to request a free car insurance quote is before anything happens, so you can calmly deal with the situation and know you're covered.
