After a crash, do this
Nov. 5, 2018
If you’ve never experienced it, count yourself lucky: The sickening thud that accompanies a car crash. The days—and sometimes weeks or months—of dealing with doctors and mechanics and insurance adjusters. The sinking feeling that if only you had left a little earlier or put your phone down or turned your headlights on, this might not have happened.
But crashes happen every day in Minnesota — the State Patrol alone has handled over 31,000 so far this year. So it’s important to know what to do immediately after one happens. You might even want to print out this blog and leave it in your glove compartment.
The first and most important thing to do after you’ve been involved in a crash is to get to a safe place. Worry less about “preserving the scene” for law enforcement and more about protecting yourself and your car from further damage, especially if you’re on a highway or interstate. For the latter, this could mean driving (if possible) to the nearest off-ramp or underpass. If your car isn’t drivable, stay inside it, but move to the passenger’s side, so that there’s more room between you and traffic.
Once you’re safe, call 911. Even if the crash seems minor, you’ll need a police report for your insurance company. Once first responders are on the way, you can start talking to the other driver. Be courteous – you’ve both been through a traumatic situation – but don’t talk fault. Instead, exchange information. Here’s what you’ll need to know about one another:
Name
Address
Phone number
License plate number
Driver’s license number
Insurance company name
Insurance policy number
Then take pictures, both of the damage itself and of the accident scene (but again, try to do so safely). Once you’ve done that, first responders should be there, and then you can start filling out a crash report.
Once you have a report number, you can call your insurance company. And if you can, see a medical professional. You may feel okay right after the crash, but injuries can show up after the adrenalin wears off.
The best way to deal with a crash is to make sure it never happens in the first place. So be sure to put your away distractions when you drive, find a sober ride if you’ve been drinking, obey all speed limits, and wear your seatbelt.
