Knowing what to do when a car accident occurs can save you a lot of time and money. Here is a simple checklist of items that you need to do when you have been involved in a car crash.

Call The Police

Many people think that if there is only a small amount of damage that they do not need to call the police, but the reality is that you need a police report to file an insurance claim with most companies. You also want to make sure that the accident is on record with the police in the event that there is ever a legal case that arises from the accident. Many people make the mistake of thinking that if nobody was injured in the accident then there is no need to report it, but injuries like whiplash show their effects days or even weeks later. A police report will also allow you to make sure that you have all the details of the accident documented in one easy to access file.

Move Your Car Out Of Traffic

If the car that you are driving can be moved without causing injury to yourself or the other person involved in the the car then you should move out of the way of oncoming traffic. Make sure that you immediately put on your hazard lights to alert other drivers still on the road that there is an issue and that they should proceed with caution when driving around your car. If the accident happened on a busy highway or road try and stay inside of the car until the police or an ambulance arrive on the scene. Avoid walking around the car on the road as it is a distraction to other drivers and could potentially lead to another accident.

Trade Insurance Information With The Other Driver

When you are involved in an accident it is important to make sure that you obtain a copy of the other driver's license and insurance information. You will need to know the other driver's insurance company, the policy number, make of vehicle, and address. All of this will be required to start the process of making an insurance claim and if the other driver does not have proper insurance then they could automatically be at fault for the accident and be liable for all the damage.

Following the tips outlined above will help you secure everything that you need during the chaos of a car accident. If you have sustained injuries in a car accident then you should always have your injuries checked out by a doctor and consult with a professional car accident attorney like http://www.davidharrislaw.com.