Move your car to the side of the road, if possible. Getting out of the way is important for avoiding any further car damage or injury.
Check for injuries Ask your passengers and others involved if they’re injured. If anyone is hurt, call 911 right away. It’s smart to call even if there are no injuries so that you can get a police report of the accident later, although not all police departments will respond to accidents without injuries.
Be careful what you say Don’t blame others or say you were at fault. If it’s unclear who caused the accident, blame will be determined later by the police and/or insurance company.
Document the situation Take several quick photos of your car, other cars involved and the scene where it happened. It’s also good to get photos of the other vehicles’ license plates — and snapping a photo is easier than writing down license plate numbers. Get the insurance information of the other drivers, and be prepared to give your own. Get contact information for any eyewitnesses. If the police respond, get the officer’s name and badge number.
Contact your insurance company Once you’ve had a chance to get home, your car insurance company can help you start the claims process and tell you what insurance you have that applies. Call your insurer’s claims hotline, which is typically listed on your insurance ID card. Many insurers also have options for starting a claim online or through their mobile apps.
