No matter if you have been in a wreck before, or it’s the first time, a car accident can be a shocking, scary experience.

Your heart starts pounding, your adrenaline runs high, and you might not know exactly what to do next.

We talk to people who have been in accidents all the time, and want to equip you with the knowledge of what to do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident, as well as the days that follow.

First Things First

The first, and most important thing to keep in mind after a car accident is safety. Make sure that you and anyone else in your car are okay before you do anything else. If that isn’t the case, and you or one of your passengers are hurt, then your next step needs to be calling 911 to get help on the way.

Assuming you and your passengers are not hurt, what’s next?

Contact The Authorities

If you have been involved in a wreck with another driver, the next thing you need to do is call the police. The police will make a report of the accident and may take statements from all the drivers as to what happened to try to attribute fault. While it may be tempting to avoid calling the police in a minor accident, if there is any damage at all, this is not a good idea. Having a record of the accident and the parties involved will be very useful when settling your insurance claim.

Most police departments recommend that if no one is hurt, and you can move your vehicle, that you move it off the road if possible. This gets you out of traffic to a safer place while you wait for the authorities.

Take Pictures

Once the police have been called and you’ve moved your car if possible, it’s a great idea to take photos of the accident. Having a variety of photos documenting the damage to your car as well as the surrounding scene can be extremely beneficial in the claims process. Take a photo of any damage to your vehicle, from more than one angle if possible. If there are tire skid marks on the road or grass, you can include those as well. Any information that a claims adjuster can use to determine who was at fault in the accident is important to have and share with them.

Exchange Information

At this time, you should also exchange insurance information with the other parties involved in the accident, if it is safe to do so. Keep in mind that all the adrenaline and emotion you are feeling from the accident, the other person is likely feeling as well. If that person feels like you’re at fault, they could be agitated. If this seems to be the case, it is better to wait for the police to show up before you try to exchange information. Another thing to keep in mind is about admitting responsibility. It’s generally not a great idea to tell the other driver you were at fault. If it is obvious that you were at fault, the police and insurance adjusters will figure that out very quickly on their own. If there is some question about who it is, then it is best to hold off and not say anything that could come across as admitting guilt. This could be anything as obvious as “my fault” or something else like, “wow, I didn’t see you there.” Or “Sorry, you stopped really fast.”

You may not be thinking totally clearly in the immediate aftermath of a car accident, so it is generally a good idea to avoid statements that admit responsibility at first.

Move Your Car

Once the police have come, statements have been taken, and insurance information has been exchanged, it is time to get your car away from the scene of the accident and get yourself home. If your car is drivable and you feel that it is safe to do so, then you can just drive it home. However just because the car will start and you can put it in gear does not mean it is safe to drive it. Make sure the brake lights are working and that you are not leaking any fluids. If the airbags deployed, then you better not drive it. If there is any question at all as to the vehicle’s safety, it is totally fine for you to err on the side of caution and call a tow truck. If you know what body shop you plan to take it to, then you can call them and ask them to either send a truck or ask them to refer you to who they use. If you are not sure where to take it or who to call, then you can always call your local agent. Your insurance agent can give you advice about where to take it and who to call without you having to get started on a claim just yet. If it is after business hours and you can’t get in touch with them immediately, then you can always call your insurance carrier’s claims number to ask them who to use.

Start Filing a Claim

Once you’ve called for a tow or driven the car home, it is time to call the insurance company. If you believe the other driver was responsible for the accident, then you should file a claim with their insurance company. This is the reason that you got their insurance information after the accident. You will need to call their claims number and have their policy number and the name of the driver. You will probably be asked to give a recorded statement as to the circumstances of the accident, so make sure you think through what you are going to say before you call. You want to give a clear, chronological, and accurate description of what happened. You want to include information like when and where it happened, and what the other party did that caused the accident. If you think you might get it mixed up when giving your statement, then write it all down before you call in and read through it several times. When they begin the recording, just read back what you wrote. Make sure you include all relevant information in the statement. This includes any injuries you or your passengers suffered in the accident. If you were given medical treatment of any kind, be sure to include that information. If you were hurt, it is strongly advised that you talk to your insurance agent before you call the other party’s insurance company. Your agent can give you advice that might make a huge difference in how your claim is settled. They may even recommend you hire an attorney if the situation warrants it, such as a severe injury or hospitalization.

What if you were at fault?

If you know you were at fault, then you can begin to file a claim with your own insurance policy if you have collision coverage. If you have liability only, then your policy is only going to pay to fix the other party’s car, up to the limit of your policy, not yours. Collision coverage is for your car, and will pay regardless of who is to blame for the accident. In the case of minor damage, you may not choose to file a claim if the cost to repair is less than your deductible. If you don’t know your deductible, check your insurance card, it should be printed right on there, but if you still aren’t sure, this is another question for your agent.

Get Your Rental Car

At this point, you might very well need a rental car. Most of us rely on our cars to get to and from work, go shopping, take our kids to school, and take care of other necessary errands that don’t go away just because you got into an accident. If the other party’s insurance accepts responsibility for the accident, then they have an obligation to pay for a rental car for you while yours is being fixed. You will generally be able to get a car that is comparable to the car it is temporarily replacing, subject to what’s available. It is important to explain to the claims adjuster what you use your car for regularly when opening the claim. If you have four kids that you need to take to school, a compact is not going to suffice. If you have a pickup truck that you use to haul a trailer or a boat, then you are going to need a similar vehicle up to the same challenge.

If you were the responsible party in the accident, your rental car is going to depend on what your policy covers. If you don’t have rental car coverage on your policy, then you will have to decide if you’re willing to pay out of pocket. With parts and labor shortages right now, body shops and mechanics are often taking longer than usual to get cars repaired, while at the same time, rental car prices are at historic highs. All of this combined means that you could easily be a thousand dollars out of pocket or more when all is said and done. Fortunately, rental car coverage is an inexpensive endorsement to add to your policy and can provide coverage ranging from thirty dollars a day up to sixty or more. Your agent can quickly and easily add this to your existing policy if you don’t already have it and can advise you on how much to get based on market prices.

Settle Your Claim

The last step in the process is settling the claim. If your car was not a total loss, then this will be done when the car is returned to you from the body shop, and you agree that the car has in fact been repaired properly. This is an important step that need not be overlooked, as once you agree in writing that the claim is settled, you can’t go back to the insurance company and ask for something else to be fixed. If you can tell that the work was not done right or there are things they missed, then do not sign any agreement to close the claim. If you are in this situation, call your agent. They can help you negotiate with the insurance company to get the work done right before you settle the claim.

If the car was totaled, then the claim is closed with the insurance company giving you a check. It is important to remember here as well that they can only pay you up to the limits of their insured’s policy. If you had a brand-new Mercedes worth $60,000, but the person that hit you had minimum limits of liability—which is only $25,000 in South Carolina—then that’s all you will get from their insurance. In this situation, you can either file a collision claim with your own policy or, if you have underinsured motorist coverage, you can use that coverage to make up the difference.

Getting into a car accident is never fun, but knowing what to do afterward, as well as what coverages you have in place make the experience much less painful. The best time to find out what your policy covers and what the deductibles are is before an accident, not once you’ve been in a wreck. Insurance can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be, which is why you should have a local agent you can ask questions about your policies and get the advice you need to make the right coverage decisions for you and your family.