As much as we never want to see ourselves in this situation, we need to know how to deal with a vehicle accident, even a minor one. If your car insurance policy is with you, it makes things easier. If there are no emergencies or injuries to attend to, click some pictures of the scene from different angles. Even your phone camera will suit the purpose. The idea is to have solid evidence to support your police report. If another party (let’s say another car) is at fault, the post-impact photos will help to clear you from the blame. If you have a printed form for supplying details of the accident, fill it in and keep with you. It’s much easier to give information accurately when you are right at the scene of the accident.

Once you call up the police, don’t move away from the scene of the accident until their work is done. If another vehicle is involved, they should wait with you. Call up your insurance company immediately. You might think that this is unnecessary, especially if the accident is a minor one and it is not your fault. But even then, it’s unlikely that the other driver’s insurance will willingly give you the coverage for medical and other expenses. If your car comes out of the accident with more than a subtle scratch on the bumper, you should definitely liaise with your insurers.

As you wait for the police car and your insurance agent, get the details of the other driver, such as name, address and insurance information. You never know when such information may come in use

Once the scene of the accident is cleared, you should check your policy again to familiarize yourself with its provisions and clauses. Quickly make a short list of all the questions you have, so that you can get the relevant information quickly. Check the conditions of your policy carefully because that will tell you how exactly to go about (at least where insurance is concerned) after an accident. The conditions are usually printed at the back of the policy documents. The instructions will be short and simple, therefore easy to follow. Read them when you are not distracted because the conditions tell you what your rights are in the event of an accident.

The cover sheet of the policy will indicate the declarations. In other words, this is the page giving the monetary limits of your coverage. Any additional provisions, benefits or discounts will also be included in this section.

Finally, proceed to the insuring agreement, which gives you the scope of protection relevant to your policy. What is not covered will be given as exclusions. If it is still difficult to understand just what you are entitled to, call up the insurance agent or the state insurance department.

When getting the car patched up, it should happen under your control, even though the money is being contributed by your insurance company. There is no rule that you should agree to the repairs or even the mechanics shop recommended by the insurance company. You are even free to allow your regular mechanic to provide an assessment of the damages. If there is any problem with your insurance company regarding the repairs, contact the state insurance department and clarify the matters with the experts. While things may not always work in your favor, at least you will be fully aware of your rights.