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Hopefully, an accident’s not waiting to happen. But to ensure your own safety and protection, you
need to react quickly and correctly at the time of an accident, getting the right information from the
right people.
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Turn off your vehicle’s engine and leave it where it is as long as you feel it’s safe. If you feel
threatened or your car is in danger of being hit by another car, slowly drive to a safer place, such as
the side of the road or a well-lit parking lot.
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Keep calm.
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Assess the degree of impact and determine whether you are injured. If you think you’re hurt in any
way, stay in your car and try to relax. Be honest if anyone asks how you are. Ask someone to call for
help and let a professional assess your condition.
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Provide medical help to others ONLY if you are trained to do so.
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Evaluate the damage to your vehicle. When examining the accident scene, NEVER walk directly between the
two cars. If one is hit again, you could become trapped between the two vehicles.
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Call the police to report the accident. Dial 911 first; if that doesn’t work, dial 0 and ask for the
police.
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Don’t say the
accident was your fault, even if you believe it
was.
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Be tactful and courteous, even if you’re angry.
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Call 1-800-CARSTAR to request a tow, arrange for a rental car, contact a family member and call your
insurance agent.
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Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses, using the form provided. If you can’t get
their names, at least get their license plate numbers.
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Exchange names, addresses, license numbers and insurance information with any other drivers
involved in the accident.
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Know where you want to get your vehicle repaired. It’s smart to decide where you’d like to take your
car before an accident ever occurs so you’re not forced to make a sudden decision at the accident
scene.
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