|
At
the Scene of an Accident
 |
Knowing what to do if you are involved in
an accident can save lives and also make the claims process easier.
- Stop your car and find out if anyone is injured.
- Call the police or highway patrol. Tell them
how many people were hurt and the types of injuries. The police will
notify the nearest medical unit.
- Cover injured people with a blanket to keep
them warm.
- Try to protect the accident scene. Take
reasonable steps to protect your car from further damage, such as
setting up flares, getting the car off the road and calling a tow
truck.
- Ask the investigating officer where you can
obtain a copy of the police report. You will probably need it when you
submit your claim to your insurance company.
- If necessary, have the car towed to a repair
shop. But remember, your insurance company probably will want to have
an adjuster inspect it and appraise the damage before you order repair
work done.
- Make notes. Keep a pad and pencil in your glove
compartment. Write down:
- the names and addresses of all drivers and
passengers involved in the accident
- license plate numbers
- the make and model of each car
- driver's license numbers
- insurance identifications
- the names and addresses of witnesses
- the names and badge numbers of police
officers or other emergency personnel.
- If you run into an unattended vehicle or
object, try to find the owner. If you can't, leave a note containing
your name, address and phone number. Record the details of the accident.
Source: Insurance Information Institute http://www.iii.org/
|
|