Baker Nissan North

The Right Things to Do When You're in An Accident

They happen randomly to all of us and that's why they call them accidents. If you know someone that has gone through life without being involved in a car accident, consider them very lucky. At Baker Nissan North, we know that accidents do happen and that's why we're busy most of the time in Houston, TX.

So, if you ever find yourself in an accident any time soon, don’t panic, because we're here to tell you what to do when the unfortunate occurs.

First move to a safe area:  If it's safe to do so and you aren't seriously injured in the accident, move your car out of further harm's way as soon as you can safely, like to the shoulder of the road. If moving your car just isn't possible, flip on your hazards to warn other drivers that your vehicle isn't going anywhere anytime.

Stop your vehicle and get out of it pronto: Make sure that your vehicle is no longer moving then turn off the engine and shift into park or set the hand brake if you drive a car that has a manual transmission. Take a moment to take a  deep breath. Check to make certain that it's safe to exit your vehicle before opening the door. If you have flares or similar road safety items, consider using them.

Check on all others involved: Check on all the other parties involved in the accident, including drivers, passengers and pedestrians, in order to make sure that no one is hurt. Call 911 if anyone has been injured in the accident. Even a seemingly minor symptom like nausea or dizziness should always be checked out by a healthcare professional.

Call the police to the scene: Even with minor accidents, a police accident report can prove very useful when dealing with your car insurance company and other drivers. Cooperate fully, but never admit fault or blame others while at the scene.

Gather information:  Try to write down as much info as possible in the accident aftermath, including:

• Driver and passenger names
• License plate numbers
• Insurance information
• Makes and models of all cars involved in the accident
• Get contact information from any eyewitnesses
• Record the location of the accident
• Get the name and the badge number of any responding police officers on the scene.

Document the scene: If you have a smartphone with a camera, snap some photos of the accident scene. They'll come in handy during the insurance claim process.

Sources: AAA, Yahoo and Driver