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Stop Your Vehicle And Get Out
Make sure your vehicle is stopped, shift into park , and turn off the engine. Breathe. Check to make sure it’s safe to get out before opening the door.
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Stay At The Scene
Never leave the scene of an accident. If you leave, you may face serious criminal penalties for being a hit-and-run driver.
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Move To A Safe Area
If you can, move your vehicle out of the way. If this isn’t possible, turn on your hazard lights.
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Check On The Others Involved
Check on the other persons involved, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Call 911 if anyone is injured.
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Call The Police
Even in minor accidents, a police accident report can be valuable when dealing with insurance companies. Cooperate fully and be polite, but avoid admitting fault or blaming others while at the scene. Let the police objectively review the events and determine who was at fault for the accident.
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Gather Information
Write down as much information as you can after the accident:
- Driver, passenger, witness names, addresses, and email addresses
- License plate numbers
- Insurance company name, policy number, and telephone number for the other vehicles involved
- Description of vehicles involved (make, model, color)
- Contact information for any eyewitnesses
- Location of the accident
- Name, badge number, and telephone number of any investigating officers
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Document The Scene
Grab your phone and take some pictures of the accident scene. The pictures may come in handy later in the case.
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Write It Down!
Write down anything said by the other driver, passengers, or eyewitnesses relating to the accident. This would include any apologies, accusations, statements about distractions, drinking, speed, or anything else about “why” or “how” the accident happened.
