Road accidents happen. And while we do everything in our power to avoid them, we might get involved in an accident ourselves at some point. This is why we prepared this short list of things you should (or shouldn’t) do once you are involved in a road accident. It takes only a few minutes to read, but we hope it can save you a lot of headache later on.

Don’t panic

The first rule is not to panic. We know it’s easier said than done, but keeping a cool head in case of a collision on the road is crucial. We tend to make more rational decisions when calm and collected.

Stop and make sure you’re safe

With the first step in mind (don’t panic!), stop the car where it’s safe to do so (i.e. highway shoulder). It’s important to get yourself and your vehicle out of the way of other incoming cars, where it’s dangerous. You also don’t want to block the traffic – sometimes it’s impossible to do, though. In those cases, you might want to turn your hazard lights on immediately, and when you can, put the warning triangle out.

Never leave the scene of an accident, no matter how minor – worst case scenario,  it might be considered a hit-and-run.

Check if everyone’s okay

The next step would be to check if you and your passengers are okay. There may be external or internal injuries. If everyone is conscious, ask them how they feel. If they are not responding (either unconscious or in shock), you should call for an ambulance immediately.

Call the emergency services

In the meantime, you should of course call the emergency services – the police, ambulance and later tow truck if necessary. Wait for the EMTs to arrive at the scene. The police may not respond if the accident was minor. You definitely want to have the police involved if the other driver flees the scene and/or is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the police arrive, make sure to provide all the information an officer asks you for. You might be asked to recount what happened from your perspective – try to be as detailed as possible.

Download footage for evidence

Now that everyone is safe and the emergency services are on the way, you should take care of the evidence. Take pictures of the damage to your car with your phone. You can also download the footage from your BlackVue dash cam – you can save it on your phone and later share with the other involved party, the police and your insurance company. Dash cam footage provides objective insight into what actually happened – eyewitnesses are not always reliable. Thanks to BlackVue dash cam’s wide angle of view all the important details are captured. With a dual channel model (such as the flagship BlackVue 4K UHD model, DR900X-2CH Plus) you can also get the rear camera footage. That’s especially valuable in multiple-vehicle crashes.

Collect information

The next step is to gather all the important information of everyone involved in the accident. That includes their names, addresses, phone numbers and drivers’ license numbers. The easiest way to collect all this information is to save it on your phone.

Don’t speculate or fight

Avoid discussing who was at fault with the other party if it’s not clear or if the other party insists on blaming you for the accident. That’s for the police and the insurance company to decide.

Seek medical help (even if you’re feeling well)

This step is often bypassed or forgotten by many in the emotional whirlwind that is being involved in a road accident. You should visit a hospital nearby even if you feel alright, possibly the same or the very next day. The side effects may take a while to develop, so it’s better to be checked by a specialist.

Call your insurance company

After you make sure your health is not in an immediate danger, it’s time to call your insurance company. To speed up the insurance claim process, let them know all the details of the accident and send them the footage you downloaded from your BlackVue dash cam.

Aftermath & Follow up 

Be prepared – this is the motto you should stand by. After the incident, it’s best to be prepared for the next potential surprise on the road – although we hope it never comes. Remember to always check on your first aid kit and restock missing items. It’s also good to have the insurance company’s number on hand – not only saved in your phone, but written on a piece of paper and stored somewhere in your car (for example in the glove compartment). You should also keep good maintenance of your BlackVue dash cam – remember to format the microSD card at least once a month for smooth, issue-free performance.