By Michael Coppleton, Boston MA
Automobile accidents can be frightening, stressful events even if no one has been injured. When injuries do occur, they can have serious long-term consequences and as we all know, auto accidents can be fatal in many cases. It is very important to know what to do if you are involved in an automobile accident as it may save the lives of others. At a minimum, it will help to complete an investigation that can aid in the handling of insurance claims later on.
Part of the preparation process involves planning ahead. If you are involved in an accident, consider the following tips and techniques.
An emergency kit is a great way to stay prepared for an auto accident. We are all familiar with the kinds of things most roadside kits carry like road flares, emergency blankets, flashlights and candles, but to be truly prepared you should have items in your kit that will help to guide you through the necessary steps you should take at the accident scene and provide you with a few of the tools necessary to document what happened. You should keep some paper and pens, and a disposable camera in your kit. Part of your emergency kit should also contain a list of things you should do as follows:
• Call the police – do not get into a dispute where emotions can take over
• Obtain the names addresses and phone numbers of other drivers
• Obtain the insurance company name, phone number and policy number for the other drivers
• Make a quick sketch of the accident details
• Take some photos
Accidents scenes are dangerous too. If the road is congested, stopped vehicles and pedestrians can easily cause a pileup. For less traveled roads, cars moving at high speeds may not be aware of the dangers ahead. Be sure to move vehicles out of traffic if possible and not, either leave the vehicles or move to the side of the road, or if there are injuries, all parties should remain belted in their vehicles. Be sure that all hazard lights are operating and if possible set out flares, cones or warning triangles.
Once it is possible to do so, be sure to exchange information with the other party. This is usually good to do while waiting for the police to arrive. Obtain the other driver’s name address and phone number, as well as all of the pertinent information from their insurance card. Be sure to also obtain their license plate number. At this stage, avoid discussions about whose fault the accident was no matter how strongly you may feel about it. If you feel the accident was not your fault, your next step can help to support your position.
Documenting the accident scene will be important in any accident, but it is particularly so if there is a dispute over who was at fault. Make a quick sketch showing where all of the vehicles where when the accident took place, and take photos of the intersection. Try to see if there is any witnesses around that may have seen the accident take place and obtain their contact information.
Once the police have arrived, describe the accident details to them and make sure you give them any witness information you may have received, as they will most often include that information in their accident report.
Finally, report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. If you feel the accident was not your fault, it may be a good idea to report it to your insurance company anyway, in case the other driver changes his mind and tries pin the blame on you for the accident. Your insurance company will work to find out the true facts, but if you do not report an accident to them and you are later sued, they could deny coverage for not reporting the incident to them
