In case you are ready, take photographs to doc circumstances of the accident.

Your first intuition after a automotive accident could also be to name for assist. Do you might have a plan for what comes subsequent? Being proactive in your response will help maintain you, your passengers and your property protected whereas simplifying the method of submitting an insurance coverage declare.

Guarantee security

• Contemplate shifting your automobile onto the shoulder or aspect of roadway to stop additional harm.
• Stand a protected distance away from site visitors and if autos are severely broken, keep a distance to keep away from unsafe situations reminiscent of automotive fires or explosions.
• Activate your hazard lights and place security flares or indicators promptly to alert different drivers.
• Contact the police or verify they’ve been notified if you’re unable to put the decision your self.
• For accidents, contact medical help and await their arrival. Don’t administer first support except certified to take action.

Preserve your composure

• Stay calm. Preserve a transparent thoughts and focus in your security and gathering related info. In case you are driving a company-owned automobile, comply with your organization’s reporting procedures as quickly as potential.
• Be courteous however chorus from accepting accountability or apologizing for something. It’s best to talk solely to a police officer when making statements concerning the accident.
• Don’t argue. Conditions can escalate rapidly. It’s best to overview circumstances surrounding the accident with a police officer current.

Collect info

• If potential, gather contact info of the responding officer. Make word of their identify, division, badge quantity and the incident report quantity.
• When applicable, request contact info from different concerned insured drivers together with identify, cellphone quantity and automobile license plate quantity. If an organization automobile is concerned, report the employer’s identify.
• Present solely the required contact info to others concerned within the accident; first and final identify, cellphone quantity and insurance coverage service ought to suffice. Scammers generally use an auto accident as a method to gather private info for id theft.
• Acquire any passenger or witness info and request that they continue to be on the web site of the accident till police arrive. Passengers and witnesses can typically recount vital particulars or circumstances that will help within the report.

Word surrounding circumstances

• Absorb your environment and make notes on your personal future reference. If potential, take just a few photographs to assist your observations. Make a copy of our brochure in your glovebox (PDF 416k) that can assist you report particulars after an accident.
• Word contributing elements reminiscent of inclement climate, hazardous street situations, visible obstructions or defective site visitors indicators.
• Make word of any noticed accidents for people concerned within the accident and describe extra collateral harm to autos or property.

It’s most useful to report particulars sooner quite than later. Gathering detailed info following your accident will help potential investigative wants and supply a transparent and concise description on your agent.

This loss management info is advisory solely. The writer assumes no accountability for administration or management of loss management actions. Not all exposures are recognized on this article. Contact your native, impartial agent for insurance coverage protection recommendation and loss management info. Neither The Cincinnati Insurance coverage Firm nor its associates or representatives provide authorized recommendation. Seek the advice of together with your lawyer about your particular state of affairs.