![]() Go to the nearest police station and file a report as soon as possible after the accident. If the police can’t come to the scene, have to leave before taking a report, don’t show up because no one got hurt or the involved vehicles are not blocking traffic, don’t panic. Be prepared for possible long waits for police to respond, because law enforcement prioritizes more urgent calls, especially during the pandemic. If you’re in a car wreck while out of state, it’s best to call 911. It’s important to know which emergency numbers to call in your state when to report accidents to the state motor vehicles division, and the other driving laws in your state before you’re in an accident. Other states require that you call 911 only to report accidents, though some locations allow texting 911, which only is advisable if it’s your only option. Make sure you’ve taught your children how and when to call 911 if they need to. Remember, “511” is not for reporting vehicle collisions it’s for learning travel conditions in the area where you’re dialing. Those include dialing cell phone-only numbers like *SP (star 77) for state police or *HP (star 47) for highway patrol, to report highway and vehicle-related problems. States have different methods of alerting police using mobile phones. “While it’s not always necessary to call the police, in some states it’s required,” says Holeman. Don’t hang up before the dispatcher says you can. When you call 911, get someone nearby to give you the location of the accident if you don’t know exactly where you are.īesides your name and other identifying information they request, prepare to provide the city, street name and house number you’re closest to, mile markings and traffic signs or signals, travel directions and whatever else you think will help them find you quickly and easily. You’ll want to get medical help for yourself or others right away, especially if the injured are children, elders or incapacitated people. Call fire and rescue or an ambulance if someone shows even minor harm from the accident. Calling an Ambulance or Law EnforcementĪfter you and your vehicle are in a safe place, check to see if you or anyone in your vehicle at the time of the accident has injuries. Do the same for non-ambulatory elders or otherwise incapacitated people traveling with you, even if they are frightened or agitated. Make sure other children stay in the car when it’s safe, so they don’t get injured. They may have injuries you can’t see, so let a first responder remove them from their car seats to assess them for injuries. If children traveling with you during the crash are young enough to be in car seats, don’t remove them from the car seats after the accident. Just as you wouldn’t leave them in the car to run into a store or other business, don’t leave the engine off with them in a hot car while you deal with the accident details. If this is a fender bender or minor collision, don’t leave young children, pets, disabled adults or non-ambulatory elders in a hot, locked car after the accident. It’s easy after a car accident to get distracted and make mistakes you otherwise would not with loved ones and pets that might lead to additional injury. Secure Kids, Pets, Seniors and the Disabled However, “you want to make sure you do not leave the scene,” Holeman advises. If you can’t move your car, get yourself and any passengers you have to a safe distance away from the collision. Even if you’re feeling disoriented, it’s important to have an after-accident plan and get through the incident in order to preserve your rights in a potential claim. “Stay calm and use emergency flashers to alert oncoming cars,” says Robert Passmore, vice president of auto and claims policy at American Property Casualty Insurance Association. ![]() If your car may cause a road hazard, you’ll want to move it, even to a sidewalk. That’s especially true “if you are bumped from behind and think you might be the intended victim of a staged accident,” says Scott Holeman, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute. ![]() ![]() The first thing you should do, if possible, is pull your car over to a safe, well-lit place nearby, preferably a public one where others can see both you and the other driver. ![]()
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