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Your accident checklist

If you are ever involved in a car accident you may find yourself in a confused state whether you are injured or not. You may not be sure of what to do after the accident occurs. If you are not seriously injured, here are some things you should do in the event of an accident:

Call for medical help for anyone who is injured. Sometimes people may tell you they are okay or they may appear to be okay, call for help anyway. Many times accident injuries are not visible so it best to be cautious.

You must get the necessary particulars from each driver involved no matter how minor the accident may be. Exchange names and address, phone number, driver’s license number and car insurance information with the other drivers. If you can, you should get the names, address and phone number of any witnesses, including the passengers in the cars that were involved.

While it is still fresh in your mind, it is good to write down the details of the accident. Describe exactly what happened from your perspective.

The next thing you should do is to call the police. Many times drivers may want to avoid involving the police in any way, but it is to your benefit that you call them and wait until they arrive. Without admitting guilt or negligence, relay the facts of the accident and let the police determine who may be at fault. You should also make sure you get the name of the officer and his/her badge number. Be sure that the police have your version of the accident.

If you have a camera in the car, photograph the accident from as many angles as you can and get good shots of any damage to each car. It may come in handy later when you need to make your claim against your car insurance company or any dispute with the other drivers.

It is also good to look at your car insurance policy to be sure of the coverage you have. Then contact your car insurance company and report the accident. You must do this quickly even if is a minor accident. Do not worry about your premiums increasing because of the accident; most state laws will usually protect you from such increases unless you were responsible for the accident. If you are confused about anything pertaining to your rights under your car insurance policy, talk to your agent to clear things up.