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A: Auto insurance companies all provide a checklist of things to do if you are in an accident. You should:
- Move to a safe place (but do not leave the scene of the accident)
- Call for medical help if needed
- Do not admit that the accident was your fault - doing so may make it difficult for your auto insurance company to disagree later
- Call the police. You will likely need to file an accident report
- Immediately after the accident, you should write down:
- Year, make, model, color and license plate of all vehicles involved
Contact information of other drivers
- Contact information of other passengers
- Contact information of other witnesses
- Time and precise location of the accident
- Provide your auto insurance information to the other driver and ask that they provide you their auto insurance information
- Contact your auto insurance company (however, read the paragraph below before you decide to contact them)
If the accident is minor, you are the only car involved, you may not want to report it to your auto insurance company. Some auto insurance companies require that all accidents be reported, even if the repair costs exceed your premium, so read your policy carefully (although this is one of the most commonly ignored provisions of auto insurance policies). You can easily get a free estimate at any auto repair shop before you decide if you want to report it to your insurance company, if you think that you might want to have the damage repaired.
However, if other people are involved in an accident, your insurance company may deny you coverage if you don't report the accident. This differs by auto insurance company and by state.
Continue to read on to learn what you can expect to pay or receive from your auto insurance company if you are in an accident.
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