Being in a car accident can be a very stressful, and often times scary, situation. If you find yourself in a collision with another vehicle, follow this step-by-step guide to help assist you.
Here’s What You Need To Do In The Event of a Car Accident
Check to see if anyone involved in the collision is injured.
- Be sure to assess yourself and, if you’re able, everyone else involved in the collision to see if anyone needs immediate medical assistance. Be sure to not move anyone that may have been severely injured and instead call 911!
Contact the police if:
- You think any other driver may be guilty of a Criminal Code offence, such as driving under the influence or if you suspect that you may be a victim of a staged collision;
- Vehicle is not driveable;
- There is property damage to surrounding buildings or structures; or
- You need to file a police report if combined damage to involved vehicles exceeds $2,000 (if you live in Nova Scotia, Ontario, or Alberta) or $1,000 (if you live in New Brunswick). If you live in Quebec, you must report all traffic accidents.
Get to safety.
- If the collision took place on a busy road, put on your four-way hazards on and try to get to safety. That means putting a safe distance between you and the scene of the collision.
Assess the damage.
- Once it is safe to do so, check for damage to your vehicle as well as the other vehicle(s) involved. Be sure to take several pictures of the impacted areas from a variety of different angles. This will help you when speaking to your insurance provider.
Capture the details of the incident.
- That includes:
- Date, time, and location of the accident
- Weather and road conditions
- Estimated speed
- Description of the accident
Exchange insurance information.
- Speak with those involved with the collision to exchange information. You will need the following:
- The drivers licence numbers of the driver(s) involved in the collision
- Including their full name and address
- The telephone number of the driver(s) involved in the collision
- The make, model, year of the vehicles involved in the collision as well as the licence plate numbers
- The insurance information of the driver(s) involved in the collision.
- Including the name of their insurance provider, policy number, and expiration date.
- Note the number of passengers, their names and position in the vehicle
- Names and phone numbers of any witnesses at the scene of the collision.
- Note, do not discuss or admit liability or fault for the accident with anyone other than your insurance representative.
- Also note, if the other driver is aggressive, do not try to engage. Simply make note of the other driver’s license plate and end the conversation to avoid escalating the situation.
Call for a tow truck.
- If your car is unsafe to drive, call a tow truck to help transport your car to your local collision reporting centre first before sending your car to a garage. If you’re unaware as to the name or location of the collision reporting centre in your province, be sure to contact your local police for further assistance. After your car is assessed by the collision reporting centre, then be sure to have it towed to a repair facility. At this point there may be many tow truck drivers offering to help; however, be mindful of any tow truck scams that might take place. It is important that you call your insurance company to get the name of the recommended company to use. Allstate customers can call our dedicated towing vendor at 1(888) 460-8697.
Call your insurance provider.
- The final step is to call your insurance provider. Be sure to detail the events that happened and provide them with all the information you were able to collect from the driver(s) involved in the collision. Your agent will then be able to discuss next steps with you.
Allstate customers can also download and set-up the Allstate app that provides instructions on what to do after a collision. Once the app has been downloaded, customers can set up their account.
To find an agent nearest you, be sure to visit www.allstate.ca.
Disclaimer: This information has been provided for your convenience only and should not be construed as providing legal or insurance advice.
