Don't think that once you buy car insurance your accident claims problems are over. Far from it! Your insurance company will not (by law it cannot) handle /our claim against another car owner or driver. You cannot sit back and "let the insurance companies fight it out."

The trouble is that most people expect the insurance company to pay just because they had an accident. They don't consider who was to blame—or what kind of car insurance is involved.

Liability insurance companies cannot dole out money indiscriminately. Someone has to be "legally liable" before they will pay.

Collecting your accident claim is not a game of chance. There are definite rules to be followed by the offense as well as the defense.

What You Should Do After An Accident

Think for a minute! What would you do if you were involve in an automobile accident? Don't guess. Know what steps you should take! It will not come to you spontaneously at the time of the accident.

This is what you should do.

Prevent Further Injury Or Damage

Clear the road. Serious, even fatal accidents have occurred following a minor mishap—simply because the cars involved in the first crash were left blocking the road. If possible, get your car out of the way. Drive it or push it, if need be, to the side of the road. Tell the other driver to do the same.

Warn oncoming traffic. If the road cannot be cleared, warn oncoming traffic. The best way is to post someone up and down the road far enough away to signal approaching vehicles. At night a flashlight should be used for this purpose. (Always carry a flashlight in your car.)

Help the injured. If anyone is seriously hurt, call or send for a doctor. Don't take it for granted that no one was hurt because there was only minor damage to the cars.

There was a case when after a car accident between two cars, and the driver of the other car had assumed after the crash that no one was hurt. When the case came up for that driver’s trial attorney asked each witness, "What did he say immediately after the accident?"

The answers were in substance: "He wanted to know if the other driver had insurance." The other driver’s wife was in the rear seat at the time—dead. She had suffered a heart attack. The other evidence was for the record. As for the jury, the case had been decided. Who would have faith in such a man? It appeared he valued his car more highly than the life of a human being.

Report to Authorities And Your Insurance Company

Notify authorities. It is generally good practice and in some places you are required to notify local authorities immediately. Do not confuse informal notice with the requirement for a written report.

All states require a written report—when anyone is killed or injured. In most states it is also necessary to report property damage accidents if the damage to any one car exceeds a specified amount.

Don't take a chance on losing your license. Check the following list to determine when a written report is necessary.