What to Do If You Are Involved in an Automobile Accident

Unfortunately, automobile accidents are on the increase. In spite of increases in the cost of driving, more people than ever are behind the wheel, and, no matter how careful you try to be, the chances are that sooner or later, you will end up involved in an automobile accident. Learning, ahead of time, how to deal with such an event can make all the difference in the world.

Here are 10 tips to help you cope:

1. Be an Alert Driver

A large number of automobile accidents are attributed to the distraction of the driver; they are talking to other passengers, screaming at kids in the back seat, eating, drinking, using a cell phone, or just gazing at the passing scenery. If you are guilty of any of these things, you need to stop at once if you would like to lower your chances of ever being involved in an automobile accident.

In addition to monitoring your own driving behavior, you need to be on the alert for the erratic behavior of other drivers. Is the person in front of you slamming on their brakes frequently? If so, you need to drop back. Is someone coming up on a merge lane beside you? Give them room to merge. Is the elderly man in front of you taking 60 seconds to move out when the light turns green? Resist the urge to lean on your horn. Avoid road rage incidents by giving other drivers the benefit of the doubt and by carefully following all traffic rules yourself.

2.Things to Keep In Your Automobile Glove Compartment

Two things that should always go along when you drive anywhere are a a small notepad with a pen or pencil attached and a disposable camera. Be sure to check the camera occasionally to be sure it is in good working order. An automobile accident can happen anywhere at any time, and its description often changes with the passing of time. Snapping a quick picture of the accident, showing the position of the cars before they are moved can save a big headache later on. Include the license plate of the other car and it wouldn't hurt if the other driver also showed up in the picture, just in case he or she refuses to provide you with required information later. Ask a bystander to snap the picture if you are too stressed out to do it.

3. When an Accident Does Occur, Try to Stay Calm

Most people are understandably upset when an accident occurs, but you need to stay as calm as possible. If someone is injured, the top priority is to get medical help so dial, or have someone else dial 911. If there are no apparent injuries, go ahead and deal with other necessary details, but, even if you feel fine, stop by your doctor's office within a few hours to get checked out in case some physical problem develops later.

4. Contact Authorities If the Situation Requires It

When there is very little damage, many states to not require that authorities be called to the scene, so you might want to check into the requirements of your own state ahead of time. If there are injuries, or blocking of traffic, authorities should be notified.

5. Don't Apologize or Admit Guilt

Apologizing can be seen as an admission of guilt so don't apologize or admit guilt-even if you think you may have been partially or totally responsible for the accident. Your insurance agent may decide to cancel your insurance if you do, because it makes his or her job more difficult in reaching a settlement after the accident.

6. Look Around For Witnesses

If there are any eyewitnesses on the scene, grab that notepad from your glove compartment and jot down their names and contact information. This can be invaluable to you later, and most people are more than happy to be of help in this way.

7. Exchange Information with the Other Driver

You need to write down, (again using that handy little notepad), the other driver's name, address, phone number, driver's license number, car make, car license number, and the name of his or her insurance company and contact person. You should provide the other person with the same information about you and your vehicle. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to keep a couple of cards with this information on it in your glove compartment, too, for just such a situation.

8. Record the Facts before Leaving the Area, If Possible

If your car is drivable, move it a short distance and write down everything you can remember about the accident; what direction each car was moving, whether any injuries occurred, and what type of damage each car suffered. Little details have a way of evaporating once we have left the scene.

9. Contact Your Insurance Company

We all hate this chore, but your agent will be delighted if you are able to provide him with all the items mentioned earlier in this article. He or she will let you know what your next move should be, and will contact you if he needs more information.

10. File an Accident Report

Some states have different rules on filing accident reports so you need to ask your insurance agent whether or not one is required in your case. Usually, a non-injury accident in a private parking lot like a shopping mall, or grocery store, does not need to be reported. Other states require reports only if the damage is over a certain monetary amount, etc.

Let's hope that you are not one of the ones who will be confronted with the problem of dealing with an automobile accident this year----but, if you are, try to lessen the stress of it all by using some or all of the suggestions above. Perhaps, if we all try a little harder, 2009 will be the year of more alert drivers, and fewer automobile accidents.