If a vehicle can’t be moved and no injuries have occurred, drivers and passengers should remain within the vehicle with seat belts fastened until help arrives. Activate hazard lights and if protected to achieve this, place cones, flares, or warning triangles.
In July of this yr, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released recent projections for traffic fatalities in 2025, estimating a decrease in people killed in crashes in the primary three months of 2025.
Despite NHTSA data showing a rise in vehicle miles traveled in the primary quarter of 2025, it was projected that traffic fatalities declined by about 6.3% in the primary quarter. That is the twelfth consecutive quarterly decline in fatalities, with this estimated quarterly fatality rate the bottom in six years, in response to a report.
But despite the decrease, crashes still occur, with even probably the most careful driver suddenly encountering bad luck on the road. So what should drivers do when the inevitable happens? The next 10 steps will help drivers get through the immediate aftermath of a crash while helping cover their firms’ administrative and legal concerns.
1. STOP!
When involved in a crash, nonetheless slight, don’t leave the scene until speaking with the opposite driver, the police, or each.
2. Stay Calm
Remain as calm as possible, avoid any inclination to react in anger, particularly when encountering one other driver behaving irrationally.
3. Keep Safety First
When involved in a minor accident with no serious injuries, move the vehicles and occupants safely to the side of the road, out of the way in which of traffic. If a vehicle can’t be moved and no injuries have occurred, drivers and passengers should remain within the vehicle with seat belts fastened until help arrives. Activate hazard lights and if protected to achieve this, place cones, flares, or warning triangles.
4. Call for Medical Assistance
Call for emergency medical help if anyone involved within the crash is bleeding, feels lightheaded, or is suffering any physical injury. At all times err on the side of caution and call for help. Unless someone on the scene is specifically trained in emergency medical procedures, wait until help arrives before attempting to maneuver an individual or perform emergency aid.
5. Contact the Police
Calling the police from the crash site is one of the best motion. If the motive force cannot contact local law enforcement, she or he should instruct another person to achieve this. Law enforcement officials can address traffic infractions and take notes for the incident record.
6. Do Not Admit Fault
Don’t discuss specific details of the accident with anyone except the police. Be polite, but don’t admit fault to the opposite driver or the police, even when the motive force’s actions led to the crash.
7. Contact Your Employer
Call the corporate fleet manager, the accident management company representative, or, if applicable, the insurance company as soon as possible. In case your employer’s fleet policy mandates, file a state vehicle accident report. A police report often helps insurance firms speed up the claims process.
8. Photograph and Document the Accident
Carry a disposable camera within the automobile to document the damage to all vehicles involved (these could be more dependable than a cellular phone which can run out of power). Include photos that reveal the general context of the crash — road conditions, intersection site, traffic signs or lights, etc.
Record in writing all pertinent information in regards to the incident, including:
- The Incident. The time and date, an outline and exact location of the accident scene, and any recollection of your vehicle’s handling or mechanical functioning immediately prior to the crash.
- Involved Parties. Names, addresses, telephone numbers, vehicle and driver’s license numbers, and insurance carriers.
- Witnesses. Names, addresses, and get in touch with information.
- Police Officers. Names, badge numbers, where to acquire a replica of the police report, and issuance of any citations.’
Place within the vehicle glove compartment copies of such essential documents a medical alerts detailing personal allergy or health conditions that will require special attention in case you are seriously injured.
9. Be Prepared for an Accident
Place within the vehicle glove compartment copies of such essential documents as:
- Insurance company ID card.
- Valid vehicle registration.
- Medical alerts detailing personal allergy or health conditions that will require special attention in case you are seriously injured.
Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle. At a minimum, this kit should include:
- Road flares or warning triangles.
- Brightly coloured cloth to tie to the driver-side door.
- Disposable camera.
- Flashlight with fully charged batteries.
- First aid kit.
- Basic tool kit.
- Duct tape.
- Pad of paper and pen.
10. If Someone Needs Assist in an Accident
If the motive force encounters an accident scene and desires to supply immediate help, pull the vehicle off the road ahead of the crash site. Don’t park in back of the accident; your vehicle might be vulnerable to traffic and will block the view of emergency or police vehicles as they arrive on the scene.
Determine first if anyone has sustained injuries and, if needed, immediately call for medical assistance.
Test Your Knowledge: True or False?
1. You need to leave the scene of an accident immediately if it seems minor.
2. Remaining calm after an accident helps you handle the situation more effectively.
3. If involved in a minor accident, it’s best to go away your vehicle in the midst of traffic to avoid disrupting evidence.
4. If someone on the accident scene is bleeding, it’s best to all the time call for medical assistance.
5. It’s not obligatory to call the police after an accident if nobody is injured.
6. You need to avoid admitting fault after an accident, even in case you consider you caused it.
7. After an accident, it’s best to contact your employer or fleet manager as soon as possible.
8. You need to use a disposable camera as a substitute of your phone to photograph the accident scene.
9. It’s unnecessary to hold essential documents like insurance and registration in your vehicle.
10. When helping at an accident scene, it’s best to park ahead of the crash site, not behind it.
Editor’s Note: This text was originally published in August 2023 and reviewed and updated for continued relevancy in August 2025.
Originally posted on Government Fleet
This Article First Appeared At www.automotive-fleet.com
