Don't Panic: Steps To Take After A Car Crash

Even the most experienced driver can get into a car crash. Whether the crash was from a distracted driver, bad road conditions or just bad luck, the end result is still the same. We have some driving tips for you and what steps to take after a car crash.

What To Do If You Are In A Car Crash

When you are in a car crash, it is very important that you try and remain as calm as possible. We understand that it can be scary, but you will make the situation much easier for everyone if you don't panic. Right after the crash, you will feel this instant rush take over. Once that is over, follow the steps below to make sure you take care of everything needed in the aftermath of a car crash.

Assess You and Your Passengers' Needs

The first thing you will want to do after the crash takes place is to make sure you have not been injured. If you determine that you are fine, then it is time to check on your passengers, if you have any with you. If anyone is seriously injured, you will need to call 911 immediately so that the injured person can get the help they need. It is important to remember: you don't want to try and remove anyone from the car if they are injured. They may have a spinal injury, so it is best to keep them where they are until medical professionals arrive.

Move Your Vehicle To A Safe Place

When you know everyone is okay, it is now time to move your vehicle over to the shoulder of the road or to a nearby parking lot, if it is drivable. If your vehicle is no longer drivable, you will want to carefully get out of the vehicle and then walk to a safe place off of the road. If the crash took place at night, you should set up some roadside flares or reflectors from your emergency kit. This will help keep other drivers on the road alert of the crash.

Call The Police

Since a car crash has happened, you will need to call the police so they can document it and get a clean-up crew to the scene, if needed. You will also need a copy of the accident report for insurance purposes, so having something official will be beneficial to you.

Exchange Information With Other Driver

Speaking of insurance, it is very important that you and the other driver exchange the following information:

• Full name, address, phone number, and email address
• Driver's license number
• Make, model, color, and license plate number
• Insurance company name and policy number

It is important that you get all of the above information. If you miss anything, it can cause delays when filing an insurance claim.

Document What You Can

We understand that you might be feeling overwhelmed, but it is important for you to stay focused. You will want to take pictures of the scene of the accident, including photos of all the vehicles involved in the crash and their damage. You will want to talk to the police officers that showed up, get their names and badge numbers and ask them for a copy of the police report. If there are any witnesses at the scene of the crash, talk with them and get their contact information in case you need them to corroborate what happened.

Contact Your Insurance Company

After gathering all that information at the scene of the crash, it is now time to go home. Once you have made it home safely, it is time to start the insurance claim process. Some companies allow you to do it online, but sometimes it might be best to call and talk to an insurance agent. They will ask you for all the information you gathered at the scene, what kind of damage the vehicles in the crash sustained and pictures of everything. They will file your claim for you and give you a timeline of what to expect during the process.

Now it is time to get some rest and let everyone else do their job. Car crashes are scary, but you need to remember to be smart and responsible when behind the wheel and hope the drivers around you are doing the same.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.