Guidelines in the Event
of a Car Accident

The Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois have some tips to help protect your personal safety and legal responsibilities in the event that you do have an accident.

• If the accident is minor and just involves property damage, move the vehicles to the side of the road, out of the flow of traffic.
• Put hazard lights on, turn off the engine, and place the vehicle in park with the parking brake on.
• Stay out of traffic and remain calm while getting in and out of the vehicle and exchanging information.
• If the accident is more serious and involves injury and/or the vehicles can't be moved, try to shut off the engines to all vehicles, turn on the hazard lights, and place the gear in park with the parking brake on.
• Everyone should carry a supply of flares in his or her car. Use them at intervals of ten feet from the rear of the accident scene, and to the side if the vehicle protrudes into oncoming traffic.
• In the case of a serious accident, both police and EMT should be called and given the best and most exact description of the location of the accident scene possible.
• Those not injured should get out of the vehicles, help others to safety and watch out for their own safety.
• If someone is injured, seek medical help immediately. If you are qualified, administer first aid, and make injured passengers as comfortable as possible.
• As a precaution, discourage people from smoking in case of fuel leaks. If you smell or see leaking gasoline, clear the area, call the fire department and don't allow anyone to smoke.
• Ask the responding officer when and where you can obtain a copy of the accident report. You'll need this for your files and your insurance company will request a copy.
• Do exchange the following information at the accident scene:
  • Name, address, phone number and driver's license number of the driver.
  • Year, make, model and license plate number of the vehicle.
  • Name, address and phone number of the vehicle's owner if different from driver.
  • Name, address and phone number of the drivers' insurance agents.
  • Some description of the collective damage and each car's damage.
  • The exact location of the accident.
• When you've been in an accident, you're going to be shaken up, at least emotionally, even if it was a minor collision. Don't discuss who is at fault with the other driver. Admission of fault at the scene of an accident could jeopardize your legal position in terms of fault and affect rights under your insurance coverage.
• If there are witnesses get their names, addresses and phone numbers.
• If you have a camera in the car, take photos of the accident. An inexpensive disposable camera in the glove compartment of the car is a good idea; however, keep in mind that extreme temperatures can damage the camera.
• While you are waiting for the police, tow truck or medical personnel, write down whatever you can remember about the accident. Note the time it happened, weather, visibility, light and pavement conditions, color of traffic lights or other signs and approximate speeds of vehicles. Here are some other things to look for:
  • Check to see if the damage appears new or old.
  • Also note which direction each person was driving, the weather conditions and traffic lights or sign conditions.
  • As soon as you can, write a brief outline of what happened.
• If your car has to be towed to a repair shop, remember your insurance company adjuster will have to appraise the damage before your ordered repair work is done. Remember to get all the information about the towing company and the exact location of the repair shop to which the vehicle is going.
• Notify your insurance agent or company as soon as possible. Share the information you've collected and ask about the procedure for having your claim settled.

As a matter of practice, well before an accident should occur, drivers should be familiar with the police, rescue and reporting requirements of the state and general region in which they reside or drive regularly.

For instance, at what dollar level of damage does your state require the parties involved in an accident to file a report with the state?

When should police be called and in what type of circumstances might police not respond?

If you don't know, your professional insurance agent will be able to help. Typically, states set a dollar limit threshold ($300 or slightly higher) for filing state accident reports for a property damage-only incident. Depending on the amount of damage, this report may or may not be accompanied by a police report.

Police departments encourage citizens to amicably resolve small fender-benders without law enforcement oversight. Most police departments will respond if called even for a minor accident if it has taken place on a public thoroughfare. However, that does not automatically mean that the responding officer will file a report. Many departments will not respond to minor fender-bender accidents when they occur on private property, such as parking lots.

Police and EMTs should always be called if there is any bodily injury involved.

Regardless of the dollar value of loss to property, accidents involving injury require the parties involved to file a state accident report. You can obtain a copy of state accident reports from your local Department of Motor Vehicles. These filed reports serve many purposes, but leading among these is verification that the parties are properly complying with mandatory insurance coverage requirements or financial responsibility laws. They also provide a more complete portrait of the accident for statistical reporting purposes. They are also a reference source for the insurance company as they investigate the accident to determine liability in the matter.

In addition to the information listed earlier, a state accident report will ask:

• Did police respond?
• If so, was a police report filed?
• If so, what is the name, badge number and police department of the responding officer?
• More detail on the insurance coverage of the driver and owner of the vehicle, if different.
• A diagram to indicate the location and describe the nature and sum of damage and/or bodily injury.

If you are involved in an accident out of state, ask the responding officer what you'll need to do and where to go to get the proper forms. When you report the accident to your insurance agent back home, he or she can secure any further information you'll need from your carrier.

An auto accident is a traumatic experience and chances are you will not remember all of these guidelines. We suggest you clip this article and put it in your car's glove box with a pencil and small notepad that lists on page one your insurance company's and agent's telephone numbers.