As you are driving down the road, listening to some music and minding your own business....WHAM! Everything changes. The sound of breaking glass and screeching tires is unmistakable as your body is jarred. Your first thought is what in the world just happened? You have just been involved in a car accident, which can catch someone completely off-guard. No matter how carefully you drive, and no matter how sharp your driving skills, chances are excellent that sooner or later you will be involved in an auto accident. Just because you are a good driver doesn't mean the person behind or in front of you is. It is important to be prepared when you are involved in an accident. The following describes the steps that should be taken right after an automobile accident occurs. The first step before even getting into an automobile is making sure that your insurance is current. Most states have made it a law that you must have insurance before driving an automobile. Once your insurance is current, it is important to have proof of your insurance in the car. It is also a great idea to have items in your car that you can use for documentation purposes. These items may include a pencil, pad of paper, your cell phone and some type of camera. Many phones today have a built in camera device which will be helpful if your phone takes good pictures. Now back to the present, as you sit in your newly damaged car. If no one has sustained any injuries, and the cars are still drivable, the cars can be moved out of the road and to the side. It can be a danger to others and create hazards to other drivers if the vehicles are left in the middle of the road. You should also be sure that your hazard lights have been turned on. The next step is to call law enforcement. It is possible that for a minor accident, the police may not respond directly, but you should make the call anyway. In cases where the police come, you should remain at the scene of the accident until the police leave or give you permission to leave. The next step is to get out of your car and exchange information with the driver of the other vehicle. You will also want to get the name of their insurance provider, policy number and the vehicle's license plate number. Also jot down some notes about the other vehicle, such as model, make, year and any distinguishing physical characteristics. This is when a camera can come in handy, so you should take pictures of the damage done to both cars. After the accident, you should file a report with your insurance company, even if the accident was minor, not your fault, or if you just choose not to have insurance fix your car. This is a protective measure to prevent you from being directly sued by the other driver involved in the accident. And never admit that an accident is your fault, as that could relieve your insurance company from the duty of paying for damages. Auto accidents are never fun, but if you follow the above steps you will at least be prepared to deal with the situation in an orderly manner. Just stay calm and everything will be okay.
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