I have just been in a Car Accident, now what do I do?

Depending on the level of severity involved in the car accident there are several things you should do. What is it ?

Keep your insurance card, title (if possible) and car registration in the car. A camera is a good idea as well as a cellular phone. The cell phone should be used to contact the Police Department. Dial 911 to speak with an operator and let them know you've been in an accident and approximately where the car accident took place. It's not a bad idea to have a camera so that you can photograph the damages but be sure you do this after the police have arrived and made the area sage. Be sure to stay in your vehicle if you're on a busy street or highway. Never get out of the car in these situations as you may get struck by other vehicles in the vicinity.

Relay to the Police Officer the sequence of events and exchange pertinent contact information with the driver(s) that were involved in the accident. Be sure to get the other driver(s) full name, address, phone number, make of the car, their insurance company, their insurance policy number, their insurance agent contact, license plate number and driver's license number.

Once the Police have concluded their reporting you can leave depending on the shape of your vehicle. If your car is too beat up ask the Police to contact a Tow truck service to remove the car.

So now your home, probably have a stiff neck and you need to start thinking about what you need to do to rectify the whole situation. Review your policy, see what your deductibles are set to and what your coverages are. It is likely if you turn in a claim to your insurance agency and you are at fault then your insurance premium will go up. If the damage to your vehicle and the other driver(s) vehicle is less than your deductible it may be a good idea to pay cash and not to contact your insurance agent.

If the damage to your vehicle and the other driver(s) vehicles are extensive you will need to contact your insurance agent. Ask them questions about the whole claim process. You will want to know how long it will take to resolve or review the claim. You will want to know how long it will take to receive your settlement to repair your damages and any rental car information. Your Insurance agent deals with this stuff all the time so they will have answers for you and hold your hand through the process.

A car accident is a scary thing that we don't want it happen and once it's over the headaches can continue if you don't have the right car insurance policy.