Here are some tips to help you through the process of dealing with insurance, repairs and maybe even medical bills if you are involved in an accident.

  ·  Be prepared Stock your vehicle with items that will be helpful if you are involved in an accident. Pen and paper for taking down information from the other driver and any witnesses. A cell phone that can be used for calling the police or ambulance. Flares or traffic triangles to help alert oncoming traffic can be kept in the trunk. A camera will help you record the accident scene. A disposal camera is cheap insurance to keep in your glove box. A blanket to keep accident victims warm is also helpful.

  ·  Get off the roadway Get your vehicle to a safe place on the side of the road or off the road if possible. It is always better to be out of the way of traffic if possible.

  ·  Check for injuries Make sure everyone is OK. Call 911 from your cell phone if necessary.

  ·  Look for witnesses Ask politely if anyone in the area saw the accident. Ask if they would be willing to talk to your insurance agent and the police. Since many accidents are "he said, she said" affairs, having a third party can be very helpful in setting the record straight.

  ·  Exchange information Get names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license number, registration (license plate), and insurance policy information. You may run in to a situation where the other driver presents you with an insurance card but may not still have that insurance coverage. In that situation, at least you will able to track them down thru the license information. If you have photocopies of your own license and registration in your vehicle, you can hand a copy to the other party and not worry about them getting your information incorrectly.

  ·  Alert the police Do not trust the other driver when they insist that they will not report the accident to the police or their insurance company. Often they will report the accident. Call the police. In some cases, depending on the severity of the collision and how busy the police are, they may feel it is not necessary to come to the scene of your accident. If that happens to you, file a police report at the station within 24 hours so you will have an official record of the accident. Without one, the other driver could claim the accident never happened or that you fled the scene or maybe even twist the facts.

  ·  Take notes Be sure to write down exactly what happened as soon as possible. Include when and where the accident took place, the number of passengers in both cars, the types of cars in involved, license numbers and weather conditions. Later on your memory will not be as fresh as it is right after the accident.

  ·  Call your insurance company You may feel that you want to keep a minor accident a secret from your insurance company, fearing a rise in your insurance premiums. While your premiums may rise, so will your blood pressure when you discover the other driver is suing you. Not notifying your insurer right away can slow up the entire process in the long run.

  ·  Stay organized Keep a folder with all your paperwork. If you are injured, keep all your medical information too. It will help later on, if you need to file a claim.

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