What You Need to Know about Filing an Accident Report

According to the National Safety Council, one in every eight drivers will be involved in an auto accident this year. Can you believe that statistic? Well, if you can, that may very well mean the content of this article is something you should print off and put in your glove compartment!

Because, if you aren’t prepared for what is a statistical inevitability, you should be.

Are you? Would you know what to do? Would you know who to call, what to say - and what not to say? Well, besides remaining calm, here are some important things you need to know about filing an accident report.

1. First things first: STAY SAFE - This is the most important thing to consider at the time of an accident. Every other piece of advice you can consider pales by comparison. Who cares who’s at fault if you make a mistake in the first seconds after a crash. It has been reported that people who survived horrific accidents died when they leapt from the car into the path of oncoming traffic. So:
   • Do not panic.
   • Stop your vehicle if it is clear, safe and legal.(In some areas it is required that you pull over to the side of the road. Check the law in your state.)
   • Move the vehicle out of the roadway, if it is clear, safe and legal.(In some areas it is against the law to move the vehicle after an accident. Check the law in your state.)
   • Turn off your car’s ignition.
   • Do a first aid check of everyone inside your car, including any passenger pets.
2. Call the police - Some accidents may seem like they don’t require police assistance, but in most states that’s not the point. It is the law, and with good reason. Many times injuries suffered in an accident take time to manifest. And, you never know the demeanor the other driver might display after the accident, and a police presence has a calming effect. If the accident is severe, definitely call 911. Also, the police will write a report and that will come in handy later when dealing with insurance companies.
3. Hold your temper - Now is not the time to assert blame, nor is it time to accept it. Don’t make accusations or threats. A lot of people have the emotional reaction of trying to erase the events that have transpired by asserting blame or by evading questions. The accident has already happened and nothing will change that. And by all means be cooperative with law enforcement, and compassionate toward the other driver and the occupants of their vehicle.
4. Never admit fault - Even if you believe you were at fault. There are often complicating factors and laws at play that you might not be aware of or which might not come to mind after a shocking event like this. For example, you may be sure you ran a red light, but do you realize that the other driver had no right to enter the intersection while you were in it? They too have broken the law and they too bear some fault, even if you feel responsible. But, if you’ve admitted fault to that driver, it could come back to bite you, and their insurance company will certainly make an issue out of whatever you said at the time of the accident. Instead, let the police assess responsibility, and allow the insurance companies sort out the impact It’s their jobs to know all the laws in your state and that gives them a clearer sense of justice and fair play than you will have, especially while still rattled by an accident.
5. Get sufficient information - There’s no such thing as too much information on the other driver in the wake of an accident. Write down everything directly from their driver’s license, including the state, the driver’s address, and the license number. Don’t ask them to tell you; they could give you bad information. Ask for their license so you can copy the information down. Do the same thing for their insurance information. Also, while you’re at it, get details about the other car, including the VIN number, make, model, color, and license plate number. These tips will help when filing an auto insurance claim.
6. Call your insurance company - Second only to calling the police is calling your insurance company. Aside from your safety and following the law, there is nothing more important. And while you’re at it, see if they won’t send out a claims adjuster to the actual scene before it’s cleared up. Nothing will better equip a claims adjuster to do their job than being on the scene in its original state. But be careful: don’t give away too much information or admit fault to them either. You may be looking for an ally, or perhaps a confessor. Resist that impulse. And say that you want to review your policy before signing any insurance documents or forms. Some claims adjusters will press customers to sign away certain policy-granted rights.

Well, we’ve now touched on dealing with claims adjusters but that’s a whole other ball of wax. Look for that in a future article!