Involved In A Car Accident? Follow These Steps

Wonder what to do if you get in a car accident? You’re not alone.

Being involved in a car, truck or motorcycle accident is a scary experience. In the shock of the moment, it can be challenging to know what to do next, like who to contact, how car insurance works and how to file an insurance claim.

We’ve developed this guide to help drivers navigate a post-accident situation more easily and with confidence. These step-by-step instructions detail how to stay safe after a car or truck accident, gather other involved driver(s) car insurance details, file a claim and more.

Critical Steps To Take After a Car Accident

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, follow these steps to ensure your safety and smooth the claims process later on.

1. Ensure Your Safety

After a collision, safety is the number one priority. Before you do anything, check yourself and others involved in the accident for any injuries and call emergency services. Afterwards, move to a safe location to avoid further car accidents if you’re able.

2. Contact Authorities

Regardless of whether it was a minor accident or more severe, contact authorities and file a police report. In many jurisdictions, it's a legal requirement to report car accidents involving injuries, significant property damage or fatalities.

Once law enforcement arrives on the accident scene, follow all instructions provided by officers.

It’s important to remember that, in some jurisdictions, admitting fault at the scene of the accident can be used against you in legal proceedings. It's essential to be cautious about what you say, especially if the fault is unclear or there's potential for dispute.

Once it gets to your insurance provider, they determine fault based on various factors, including the accident report, eyewitness accounts and other evidence at the scene. Admitting fault without a full understanding of these factors could affect your ability to recover damages.

3. Exchange Information

Before documenting the scene, you’ll need to exchange information — including insurance details — with other involved parties and accident victims. This includes personal and insurance-related material such as:

●    Names.
●    Addresses (ensure they’re current and correct).
●    Phone numbers/emails.
●    License plate numbers.
●    Insurance company name and details.
●    Insurance policy numbers.
●    Driver's license numbers.

To make this a bit easier, you can simply take a photo of other parties’ IDs and auto insurance cards. You will need these details later when it’s time to file an insurance claim.

4. Document the Scene

• The date, time and location of the accident.
• Any vehicle damage.
• The make, model, year, color and license plate number of all involved vehicles.
• Road conditions and weather at the time of the accident.
• Traffic signs/signals.
• Relevant landmarks.

• A description of events: Write down a detailed description of how the accident occurred, including the sequence of events leading up to the collision. Include information about traffic flow, speed and any actions taken by drivers involved.
• Witness statements: If there are witnesses to the accident, ask for their contact information and obtain written or recorded statements describing what they saw.
• Injuries and required medical treatments: Document any injuries sustained by yourself or passengers, as well as any medical treatment received. Keep records of medical bills, prescriptions and doctor's notes related to the car crash.
• Police-provided documents: This includes the police report number and any applicable tickets or citations issued.

5. Notify Your Insurance Company

Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to provide an accident report and initiate the claims process. Kemper policyholders can report claims online. Make sure you have all relevant information on hand when you call. Once asked, provide them with the necessary details and any documentation you've gathered.

Auto Accident Checklist

Here’s a condensed version of the steps we just covered:

1.    Get somewhere safe.
2.    Contact authorities and report the accident quickly.
3.    Exchange and collect all relevant information as outlined above.
4.    Document the scene as best you can.
5.    Be available to your insurance company and cooperate during the investigation.

If you need help when it comes time to file a claim, see here.

Affordable Auto Insurance for All

Kemper is a leading specialized insurer in the United States. Our commitment to affordable, personalized auto insurance solutions means we always have drivers' best interests in mind.

Don’t get caught in an accident without insurance. Request a quote today and discover how Kemper makes insurance easy.

This material is for general informational purposes only. Products, services, and discounts referenced herein are not available in all states or all underwriting companies. All statements are subject to the terms, exclusions and conditions of the applicable policy. In all instances, current policy contract language prevails. Coverage is subject to individual policyholders meeting our underwriting qualifications and state availability. Other terms, conditions and exclusions may apply.