Being in a car accident can be a very stressful, and sometimes scary, situation. If you’ve recently been in a collision, this step-by-step guide may help.
I’ve Been in a Car Accident, Now What?
Check to see if anyone is injured
Assess yourself and, if you’re able, everyone else involved in the collision to see if anyone needs immediate medical assistance. Do not move anyone that may have been injured and instead call 911!
Contact the police if:
- You think any other driver may be guilty of a Criminal Code offence, such as driving under the influence or if you suspect that you may be a victim of a staged collision;
- Vehicle is not driveable;
- There is property damage to surrounding buildings or structures; or
- You need to file a police report if combined damage to involved vehicles exceeds $2,000 (if you live in Nova Scotia, Ontario, or Alberta) or $1,000 (if you live in New Brunswick). If you live in Quebec, you must report all traffic accidents.
Get to safety
If the collision took place on a busy road, put on your four-way hazards and try to get to safety. That means putting a safe distance between you and the scene of the collision.
Assess the damage
Once it is safe to do so, check for damage to your vehicle as well as the other vehicle(s) involved. Take several pictures of the impacted areas from a variety of angles. This will help when speaking to your insurance provider.
Capture the details of the incident
That includes:
- Date, time and location of the accident
- Weather and road conditions
- Estimated speed
- Description of the accident
Exchange insurance information
Speak with those involved with the collision to exchange information. You will need the following:
- The drivers licence numbers of the driver(s) involved in the collision
- Including their full name and address
- The telephone number of the driver(s) involved in the collision
- The make, model and year of the vehicles involved in the collision as well as the licence plate numbers
- The insurance information of the driver(s) involved in the collision
- Including the name of their insurance provider, policy number and expiration date.
- Note the number of passengers, their names and position in the vehicle
- Names and phone numbers of any witnesses at the scene of the collision
- Do not discuss or admit liability or fault for the accident with anyone other than your insurance representative
- If the other driver is aggressive, do not engage. Simply make note of the other driver’s license plate and end the conversation to avoid escalating the situation
Evaluate your options
Sometimes tow truck drivers can arrive at a scene faster than first responders. However, be mindful of tow truck scams. Before you agree to anything, understand that you have options regarding who you want to tow your vehicle and where.
If your car is unsafe to drive, call a tow truck to help transport your car to your local collision reporting centre first before sending your car to a garage. Allstate customers can call our dedicated towing vendor at 1 (888) 460-8697.
If you’re unaware as to the name or location of the collision reporting centre in your province, be sure to contact your local police station for help.
Call your insurance provider
The final step is to call your insurance provider. Be sure to detail the events that happened and provide them with all the information you were able to collect from the driver(s) involved in the collision. Your insurance professional will then be able to discuss next steps with you.
Your insurance provider may also have a Preferred Service Centres (for Allstate customers they’re known as Priority Repair Option (PRO) Shops. These are repair centers, approved by your insurance provider, that can repair your vehicle. There are added benefits of using a Preferred Service Centres that are worth considering. It is important that you call your insurance company to get the name of the recommended repair shop to use.
Allstate customers can also download and set-up the Allstate app that provides instructions on how to submit a claim after a collision. Once the app has been downloaded, customers can set up their account.
To find an agent nearest you, be sure to visit www.allstate.ca.
Disclaimer: This information and the websites referenced are provided for your convenience only and should not be construed as providing legal or insurance advice. Allstate does not control or guarantee the accuracy of any content on any third-party site. Allstate is not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party site.
* Certain terms and conditions apply. Contact your Allstate claims professional or local agent for more details.