What To Do If You Are Involved In A Minor Car Accident

Any car accident can be very distressing - buying a brand new front wheel hub or rear wheel hub and then having it destroyed is never fun. However, if you areprepared it can help make a stressful situation more manageable. This guide isfor cases in which there are no injuries to either party in the accident. Ifyou are involved in an accident where there are injuries to either party, youmust stop immediately and dial 911.

 The first thing to do if you are involved in an accident is,if possible, to move your car to a safe nearby location out of the way of othermotorists. Be careful not to go too far, and never leave the scene. Leaving the scene of an accident is a highlypunishable offense and a felony in cases where someone is injured.

Stay calm. Regardless of whether the accident was your faultor not, don’t panic, remain polite, and do not admit fault. Contact your localpolice, who will inform you whether or not a patrol officer should come andassess the situation.

Then exchange information with the other party. Collecttheir contact information, insurance information, the year make model and colorof their vehicle, and their license plate number. Take a picture of the damage toboth vehicles at the scene of the accident. Take pictures from multiple angles,and try to get as much detail as possible – from close-ups of the damage towider shots of the scene itself. If you do not have a camera on yourmobile phone, purchase a disposable camera and keep it in your car at all timesin case of an accident. Also collect contact information from the tow truckdriver and any witnesses (if present).

After you have exchanged all of the information necessary,you should be ready to get on your way. Make sure to keep all of theinformation you gathered in a safe place so you can reference it once youreturn home to complete the necessary paperwork, and ensure the responsibleparty pays for the repairs.

What Documents Are Important to Keep for my Vehicle?

There are several documents you are required to keep withyou when you drive in the United States. It is easy to forget about necessarypaperwork when driving – most of us are only concerned whether our CD Playerand navigation units are functioning to make sure we are entertained and comfortable. Howevernot having a piece of the necessary paperwork required for driving on publicroads can leave you with a huge headache.

 One of these is a driver’s license, which alsoserves as a valid form of identification. As it is your license to drive, and aform of identification, it is best to carry your driver’s license with you atall times. These are issued by your home state, and the requirements forobtaining one vary from state to state. To check the requirements where youlive, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles website for your home state.

You are also required to carry a liability insurance policyfor driving. The minimum requirements of these policies also vary from eachstate, but regardless, a card will be issued to you either physically orelectronically. There are many insurance companies switching to paperlesspolicies, and while this is more efficient and “eco-friendly,” it is importantto make sure you print a copy of your insurance card and keep it with you ifyou received it electronically.

You are also required to register your vehicle in the statein which you live. After filling out a registration form, and a check for thefees for registering your vehicle, you will receive a document and a sticker toapply on the top right corner of your license plate. Make sure to keep thedocument that comes with the sticker – this is your vehicle registrationpaperwork and should be kept, along with your insurance information, in theglove compartment of your vehicle.

Why are these documents important to keep with you? If youare ever pulled over by any law enforcement officer, you will be required tofurnish these documents as proof you are legally able to drive in the U.S. Ifyou are caught without these documents you will most likely be issued aseparate ticket for not having them on you, along with whatever violation youwere cited for in the first place. Additionally, if you are ever involved in anauto accident, you will be required to exchange the information on thesedocuments to the other party involved (if any), and depending on the severityof the accident, report it to the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is best toavoid any problems by making sure you have your paperwork in order at alltimes.
 

 Lastly, it is very important to keep the original documents thatprove your ownership of the vehicle – typically called a title. The title toyour vehicle is critical in proving that the vehicle belongs to you, and isrequired for registering the vehicle in your name for the first time. Neverkeep the title inside the vehicle – if the title is lost, getting another copycan be difficult. It is best to keep the title to your vehicle in a safe placeat home where you can find it if you need it.