Auto Accident 101

The first time I was in a car accident was when I was 17. I was riding with a friend and we were going to Wendy's for a 10:00 burger run. It was summer and a Saturday night. No, we had not been drinking.

We were stopped at a red light. A car was coming up behind us. My friend said, "Look Out!"

I remember everything slowed down. I could feel us being pushed forward - sort of like the feeling riding in bumper cars. We were pushed out into the intersection. Cars were coming from the cross street. They swerved around us. My friend, Janet, drove the car over to a curb. The car that hit us drove on past. I remember seeing the windows were down and there were a bunch of guys in the car. They were starring back at us. I could see them looking, but I could not tell you what they looked like.

People came out from a restaurant and said they heard the whole thing. My friend and I asked them if they knew what kind of car it was. No one could say other than it was a dark sedan.

Janet's neck hurt. She was able to walk. I was not hurt, but I was really shaky.

We never found the identity on the other car. Janet's car was older and her parents did not have physical damage coverage. Since we could not find the other car or driver, Janet was out a car. She also had to go to the doctor. Her family had health insurance, but they ended up having to pay a $1,000 deductible and 20% co-pays.

Here are things to remember if you are in an accident:

Safety: The very first thing is safety. Are you hurt? Is anyone in your car hurt? If you can, move your vehicle out of the way of traffic. It will not matter to the police if your car is in the spot it came to rest at, and you and everyone else are much safer if you can get out of the road. If you can't move your car. Get out if it is safe to do so and away from traffic.

Most accidents involve minor injuries. If this is the case with your accident, then you will want to do the following within seconds after the accident:

1) Identify the other vehicle(s) in the accident. Start with the body. Is it a truck? Car? SUV? 2-door? 4-door? Get the license plate. Do not expect the other driver to stop. Get this information as fast as you can. Talk out loud even if you are the only one in the car when you are getting the description. It can help you to remember later on. It is a good idea to keep a pen and paper in your glove box so you can write this information down.

If you have a cell phone with a camera and have time, take a picture of the other car. Since the other car may drive off, do this only if you already have the vehicle license plate and driver information.

2) Identify the driver. Is it a man? Woman? Approximate age? Hair color? Eye color? Get a good look. If the driver of the car later claims the vehicle was stolen or not at the scene, it will be easier for the police to prove who was driving if you have a good description.

Are there any passengers in the other vehicle? If so, make a note how many, sex, age, hair color and any other identifying information.

3) Look around for a witness. If there are other cars in the area - and you can get out of your car safely - put your hand up and point directly at someone. Say, "You. Please help me." People will drive off if they see an accident thinking someone else will stop. However, if you point to someone usually this will get the person to stop and help. Ask the witness if he saw the accident and if he was able to get the license or other information on the vehicle. Ask him for his name and contact information if he cannot wait for the police.

4) Call the police. Depending on where you live, they may not respond to the accident. If the accident is on private property, like a mall parking lot, the police do not have the jurisdiction to respond. Most malls have security which will take an incident report. If you do not have a police report, get the year, make, model, auto insurance information - name of carrier, name of agent and policy number a name of the person on the policy. Get the driver's name, passenger information, and address information from the other parties in the accident. Also get the witness information which should include the witness's name, address and contact information.

5) Contact your insurance carrier as quickly as possible. Most insurance companies have online reporting services or toll free number to make it convenient for you to report the loss. Do this even if the other party tells you they will take care of it. You can always close the claim, but if it turns out the other party does not have insurance, your company can help you out.

6) If your car is damaged to the point you cannot drive it, you will need to have it towed. If the police are at the scene, they will call the tow company for you. If you have tow coverage such as AAA, you can call and they will pick up the vehicle. Find out where they are taking your car. If you do not have collision coverage, you may have to have your car towed to a salvage yard or your home depending on the damage and your ability to have it repaired. If the accident happens at night or on a weekend, you may have to pay for the tow bill up front. If insurance covers the damage, they will usually pay the tow bill as well.

Follow these steps whether you are the person at fault for the accident or the victim. Innocent parties can sometimes get involved in accidents set up by professional insurance fraud rings. If you are involved in a staged accident, the more information you have, the better your insurance company will be able to defend any claims presented against you.