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Knowing what to do if you are involved in an
accident can save lives and also make the claims process easier.
[Car Wreck - Video]
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Stop your car and find out if anyone is injured.
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Call the police or highway patrol. Tell them how
many people were hurt and the types of injuries. The police will
notify the nearest medical unit.
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Cover injured people with a blanket to keep them
warm.
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Try to protect the accident scene. Take
reasonable steps to protect your car from further damage, such as
setting up flares, getting the car off the road and calling a tow
truck.
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Ask the investigating officer where you can
obtain a copy of the police report. You will probably need it when
you submit your claim to your insurance company.
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If necessary, have the car towed to a repair
shop. But remember, your insurance company probably will want to
have an adjuster inspect it and appraise the damage before you order
repair work done.
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Make notes. Keep a pad and pencil in your glove
compartment. Write down:
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the names and addresses of all drivers and
passengers involved in the accident
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license plate numbers
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the make and model of each car
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driver's license numbers
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insurance identifications
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the names and addresses of witnesses
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the names and badge numbers of police
officers or other emergency personnel.
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If you run into an unattended vehicle or object,
try to find the owner. If you can't, leave a note containing your
name, address and phone number. Record the details of the accident.
©
Insurance Information Institute,
Inc. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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