A car accident is an extremely hectic time – people are nervous, disoriented or even angry. Because of these difficult circumstances, it’s important to remember these steps to ensure you don’t create an even larger headache for yourself in the future. Even relatively small accidents can turn into sizeable ordeals that involve dealing with hospital bills, insurance companies, lawyers, and conflicting stories from opposing parties. Even if you are the innocent driver, you should remember the following steps in the case of an accident.

1. Ensure that everyone is okay – This should be your first priority, even before assessing your car for damage. If necessary, call 911 as soon as possible to make sure the police and emergency services can get there quickly.

2. Stuff your guilt in a sock – While you should be as polite as possible, apologizing for the accident can be seen as an admission of liability. In order to protect yourself, be courteous and polite, but do not apologize.

3. Look for witnesses – If anyone saw the accident take place, talk to them. Try to get their contact details; a second set of eyes to verify your version can be valuable.

4. Contact your car insurance company – Make sure that you report the accident to your auto insurance company. You should do this even if it was your fault.

5. Snap some photos – You’ll want to take these to have evidence of the damage to your car, and you may also want to send these to your insurance provider. Even if you have a smartphone with a built in camera, you may wish to keep a disposable camera in your glove compartment in case you need it.

6. Get an estimate of the damage from your insurance company – Getting a quote sooner than later will help to expedite the process. If the figure seems low, look for another appraisal.

7. Don’t speak with the other party’s insurance provider – If they call you, divert them to your insurance company or your lawyer; they are better equipped to field these types of calls.

8. Don’t necessarily take the first settlement offer you get – You don’t want to make any knee-jerk decisions regarding a settlement; it could prove to be a costly error down the line.

9. Make sure you get an experienced attorney – As you can see, even the simplest car accidents can become complicated quickly. If there is a dispute with your insurance company or the insurer for the other driver, make sure you seek a trustworthy, competent lawyer for assistance.

Source:FindLaw