Whether you have been in a major or minor accident there are certain steps to take after an accident. First you and any other driver involved should check for injuries, if there are none then if it is safe to do so you can leave your vehicle to speak with the other(s) involved in the accident. To get a police report the police will need to be called.

Next you should exchange information with the other driver. This exchange should include: name, telephone number, address, insurance company name, policy number and driver’s license numbers. Other information you might want to write down yourself are the car’s make, model, year and license plate number. If there are witnesses get their information as well.

If you have a camera, even if it just the one in your phone, you may want to take pictures of your damage and the accident scene. After information has been exchanged and the police report has been taken normally you can now leave the accident area. If you were the at-fault party then you will need to inform your insurer that another party will be making a claim against your policy. They will want a statement from you on how the collision occurred.

If you are placing a claim against another party's insurance, call and place a claim. The claim will be investigated and you will be notified if the claim is accepted or not. If it is then the claims adjuster should give you information on how to get your car repaired.

There are some accidents that the fault falls with both drivers. In those cases each driver typically makes a claim for their damages with their own insurance provider. In other minor accidents there is no damage so drivers may exchange information but do not call the police or make insurance claims.

For more information on how to deal with accidents read our articles Accident Checklist - What To Do Following a Motor Vehicle Accident and The Value of Taking Accident Photographs.