If you’re in a position, take images to doc circumstances of the accident.
Your first intuition after a automobile accident could also be to name for assist. Do you might have a plan for what comes subsequent? Being proactive in your response can assist preserve you, your passengers and your property secure whereas simplifying the method of submitting an insurance coverage declare.
Guarantee security
- Take into account shifting your automobile onto the shoulder or aspect of roadway to stop additional injury.
- Stand a secure distance away from visitors and if autos are severely broken, preserve a distance to keep away from unsafe situations equivalent to automobile fires or explosions.
- Activate your hazard lights and place security flares or indicators promptly to alert different drivers.
- Contact the police or affirm they’ve been notified if you’re unable to position the decision your self.
- For accidents, contact medical help and await their arrival. Don’t administer first assist except certified to take action.
Preserve your composure
- Stay calm. Preserve a transparent thoughts and focus in your security and gathering related data. If you’re driving a company-owned automobile, comply with your organization’s reporting procedures as quickly as doable.
- Be courteous however chorus from accepting duty 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 shortly. It’s best to evaluate circumstances surrounding the accident with a police officer current.
Collect data
- If doable, accumulate contact data of the responding officer. Make notice of their identify, division, badge quantity and the incident report quantity.
- When acceptable, request contact data from different concerned insured drivers together with identify, telephone quantity and automobile license plate quantity. If an organization automobile is concerned, file the employer’s identify.
- Present solely the mandatory contact data to others concerned within the accident; first and final identify, telephone quantity and insurance coverage service ought to suffice. Scammers typically use an auto accident as a method to accumulate private data for id theft.
- Gather any passenger or witness data and request that they continue to be on the website of the accident till police arrive. Passengers and witnesses can typically recount necessary particulars or circumstances that will help within the report.
Observe surrounding circumstances
- Soak up your environment and make notes on your personal future reference. If doable, take just a few images to assist your observations. Make a copy of our brochure in your glovebox (PDF 416k) that can assist you file particulars after an accident.
- Observe contributing elements equivalent to inclement climate, hazardous street situations, visible obstructions or defective visitors indicators.
- Make notice of any noticed accidents for people concerned within the accident and describe further collateral injury to autos or property.
It’s most useful to file particulars sooner slightly than later. Gathering detailed data following your accident can assist potential investigative wants and supply a transparent and concise description on your agent.
This loss management data is advisory solely. The creator assumes no duty for administration or management of loss management actions. Not all exposures are recognized on this article. Contact your native, unbiased agent for insurance coverage protection recommendation and loss management data. Neither The Cincinnati Insurance coverage Firm nor its associates or representatives supply authorized recommendation. Seek the advice of together with your legal professional about your particular state of affairs.
