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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.
- Stop your car and find out if anyone is injured.
- 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.
- Cover injured people with a blanket to keep them warm.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Make notes. Keep a pad and pencil in your glove compartment. Write
down:
- the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers involved
in the accident
- license plate numbers
- the make and model of each car
- driver's license numbers
- insurance identifications
- the names and addresses of witnesses
- the names and badge numbers of police officers or other
emergency personnel.
- 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.
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