Top If You're Involved in an Accident

Reacting appropriately after an accident can save you not only money, but lives.

Here's what to do:

• Stop. Don't flee. Leaving the scene of an accident, regardless if you are innocent, will lead to a migraine of legal hassles.

• Try to move your vehicle to the side of the road.

• Attend to the injured, but do not move unless fire is involved or you are a medical professional.

• Contact the police as fast as possible. Police are required to file crash reports with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if the accident involves death, injury or total property damage exceeding $1,000. All police-reported information will appear on the driving records of each driver involved.

Top Information Gathering

Exchange contact information with all involved drivers if, of course, you're physically able. Grab phone numbers, addresses, license plate numbers, and insurance policy numbers.

If there are witnesses, try to obtain their contact information as well.

Top Hitting an Unattended Vehicle

If you hit a parked vehicle, the responsibility falls on you to locate the owner. If you can't find the owner, leave a note. Be sure to include more than the word "sorry." Write your name, address, phone number, driver's license number, time and date of collision, and estimated damage. You must also notify the police within 24 hours of the accident.

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