After an Accident Guide

A Step-by-Step Guide to Responding to Non-Fatal Car Accidents

The screeching brakes, the terrible sound of metal meeting metal, the stares of nosy drivers—it’s impossible to describe how awful the experience is to someone who has never been involved in an accident.
Towing Sacramento specializes in accident removal and towing services, but there are a few steps you should take before the tow truck arrives at the scene. These necessary precautions also apply to situations in which a tow truck is not necessary.

Take the Necessary Safety Precautions

The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you and your passengers are protected from oncoming traffic. If you can still move your car, pull over to the side of the road; if not, wait until it’s safe to exit the vehicle and quickly make your way to the side of the road. In the event that neither of these options is possible, fasten your seat belt and wait for emergency help.

Call the Police and Request an Accident Report

Unless someone is injured, in which case you should call 911, call the police and request an accident report. The last thing you need is to be blamed for an accident you did not cause, and the best way to avoid this nightmare is to promptly call the police and request and accident report. While you wait for a local police officer to show up, gather all of the details pertaining to the other driver: license number, insurance information, registration number, and the like. Another useful tip is to write down everything you can remember about the accident; your claims adjuster will ask for a detailed report, and you’ll remember less about the accident later on.

Take Plenty of Pictures and Jot Down the Names of Witnesses

Nowadays, cell phones are usually equipped with cameras. Pictures are more valuable than words when you’re dealing with a claims adjuster, so make sure to photograph your car—and the other driver’s car—from every possible angle. Be thorough and take photos of the street, intersection, or parking lot. Chances are that witnesses saw what happened, so ask for their names and numbers.

Finally, take a deep breath and thank your lucky stars that you were not injured. This may sound like a cliché, but a little bit of perspective will help you recover from the trauma of being involved in an accident.