You've Been In A Minor Car Accident - Now What?
You've Been In A Minor Car Accident - Now What?
Like Dislike Save
 
 
Nearby places Nearby places
Accidents are never fun. Even a minor accident as a major deal. Read this article that explains what to do in a minor vehicle collision so you're prepared should it ever happen to you.
Features
• Automotive: DIY • Automotive: How-To • Automotive: Tips & Tricks
An all too common occurrence for drivers today is to be involved in a minor car accident. You would be surprised how easy it is to get into a minor collision with another vehicle; it could be from changing lanes or even just backing out from parking spot. Luckily most of these small scale crashes and collisions result in no physical damage to the drivers or passengers, which is always the most important thing.


Once the dust has settled though, it’s clear that some repairs and damages need to be addressed. If you have never been in a crash before you might not have a clue what you should do which could potentially see you getting taken advantage off, especially if you are not at fault for the crash. There is no reason why you should take a financial hit repairing your vehicle if you have no blame involved in the incident, but you will need to take some measures to ensure the process goes smoothly.

Even if you believe the accident was your own fault, it’s important to follow some rules to make sure the facts are well documented.

Stop Your Vehicle & Move To A Safe Location If Possible

The extent of the damage and the location of the cars will determine how possible it is to move them after a crash. Only do this if you are sure you have no major injuries as well, but you may want to avoid further collisions if your car is in a hazardous spot.

Turn on your hazard lights and try to move to a secluded spot such as the shoulder of the road. This is especially important if you’re on a fast moving road, like a freeway or highway, and should do your best to get out of the way to avoid causing more accidents.


If you're car cannot be moved and you're in a dangerous situation (fast moving traffic nearby, for example) then stay in your car and call 911. Continue to wait in your car until police can arrive and safely handle the situation.

Get That License Plate

Depending on the circumstances of the crash, there is every chance that the other driver may not hang around to exchange details. In the event of this happening, you will want to try your best getting their car type and license plate number.

This includes writing down the license plate and model of the car if possible. Taking a quick snap on your phone can work wonders, but may not always be a viable option. In that case, just repeat the numbers from the plate out loud until you have the chance to write them down.

Call The Police

As soon as it is viable, make a quick phone call to 911. While there may be not immediate damage to either person, it is still necessary to have the police there to process an incident report; this will help with the following legal proceedings that may follow.


Don’t admit to any wrongdoing with the police as and don’t try to point the finger at the other driver. Insurance companies will battle it out with one another so there is no need for you to get involved in heated debates or confrontations at this point. Simply tell the police officer exactly what happened for the report.

Exchange Details With The Other Driver

Names of the driver and any passengers should be swapped with each other along with several other important details. You will want to give your name, address, and phone number as well as gather the other driver’s information.

Licence plates, the makes and models of both cars and essential insurance information should be exchanged with each other – the name of your insurance company, phone numbers, and policy numbers should be passed on.

Gather Other Helpful Info

If there are any witnesses to the crash, be sure to ask for their name and details to help with the incident. The names of any police officers that responded should be noted too, along with their badge numbers. Also note down the exact location where the crash took place.


If you have a smart phone, be sure to use it to capture more evidence. Even the smallest detail could help with your claim, so the more documentation of the incident the better. Photograph all involved cars, focusing on areas that have been damaged.

Some phones even have apps from insurance companies which allow photographs to be uploaded alongside your insurance claim.
Contact Your Insurance Company to File a Claim or Notification

Pretty self-explanatory, get in contact with your car insurance provider and explain you want to make a claim. They should take you through each step, which mainly involves sending over all the information you have gathered in the previous steps.