In a Fender Bender? Here's What To Do

We hope you’re never involved in a car accident. Unfortunately, they do happen. In addition to practicing safe driving, it’s best to be prepared for the unexpected. Keep the following in mind if you ever get in a fender bender:

Stay calm. You don’t want to say or do anything that may worsen an already troubling situation.

Stay at the scene. Make sure you are in a safe place either in or near your vehicle. If you or the other driver(s) need medical attention, call 911 immediately.

Report it. No matter how minor the accident may be, failure to report it to law enforcement is against the law. You also need to exchange insurance information.

Take photos. Use your cell-phone camera, or better yet, have a disposable camera on hand for these situations. Take photos of both vehicles and the area in which the accident occurred.

Take notes. Text yourself or keep a notebook handy so you can jot down notes about what you were doing before the crash, which direction you were headed, when the other driver came into the scene, etc.

Stay on top of it. Keep in constant contact with your insurance company and the repair shop to make sure everything is happening in a timely manner so you can get on with your life.