Collision Survival Guide: Be Prepared

It can be really quite scary and confusing when you have been in a car accident. It's easy to forget what you need to protect yourself when you are in the position of having just been in a collision. One of the best tools you can have with you in your vehicle is a collision survival guide. It's one you can put together yourself, likely using things you already own in your home. When you have finished putting your collision survival guide together, put it in your glove compartment.

Your collision survival guide should contain:
A pad of paper

A sharpened pencil (not a pen, they can dry out or leak) It's best to get a mechanical pencil for your kit.

A pencil sharpener, if you use a regular pencil.

Your vehicle's registration papers

A copy of your insurance card

Emergency contact numbers for you

A disposable camera

Road flares or light sticks in case your collision is at nighttime

Small reflective road signs to warn drivers to slow down or avoid the area

You should also write down or print out a few copies of the following information on sheets of paper so you will remember what information to from other drivers and witnesses when you've been in a collision. You should also make some copies of this and fill it out for yourself to give to the other drivers in the collision.

For other vehicles and driver's involved in the collision:

Name:
Address:
Phone number:
Auto Insurance company name:
Auto Insurance company phone number:
Policy number:
Driver's license number:
License plate number:
Year, make, model and color of the vehicle:

For witnesses to the collision:

Name:
Address:
Phone number:
Driver's license number:

You can also print out this information to keep with your survival kit:

I've been in a collision:
Stay calm--staying calm will help you concentrate on the issue at hand. Collect your thoughts and evaluate what has happened.

Make sure you are not hurt, your passengers and then other people involved. Do not move people who are injured. Call 911 for assistance or task someone to call 911.

Use your disposable camera and take pictures of the vehicles involved in the collision, the position of the cars and the damage that has been done to them.

If you can, move your vehicle off to the shoulder and out of the way of traffic.

If you haven't called 911, do so now to report the incident, no matter how minor it is. If the collision is minor, police will probably not attend the scene.

Get the parties involved to give you their information so you can fill out one of the sheets of paper on the other vehicles and people involved in the collision.

Get the information from the witnesses that saw the collision happen.

Document the accident with as much information as you can, while it is still fresh in your mind, other than just the photos. Make notes of your location, street name, the direction you were heading, the direction the other vehicle was heading, signs that are nearby and other information that you can see and remember.

File a report with the police station right away.

Don't tell anyone that you think you were at fault and don't discuss the specifics of the accident with anyone other than the police officer and your insurance company.

Call your insurance company to report the incident and give them a copy of the information and pictures you collected at the scene.