Here’s exactly what you should do if you get in a fender bender

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Odds are you’ll experience at least one car accident in your lifetime.
In any accident, no matter how minor, rational thinking and a sense of calm can go a long way.
We spoke to a driving safety expert, who told us exactly what you should do if you get in a fender bender.

Around 6 million car accidents occur each year in the United States, and odds are you’ll experience at least one in your lifetime.

No matter how minor a car accident may be, like any other stressful situation, it has the potential to make you lose your cool.

Should you find yourself in a fender bender, rational thinking and a sense of calm can go a long way in not exacerbating the issues at hand.

Carrie Mae Messerly, vice president of operations for New York City’s DriveRite Academy, advises a standard operating procedure for responding to a collision, no matter which bent fender may be yours.

Here’s exactly what she says you should do if you find yourself in a fender bender.

Orient yourself

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Messerly identifies three default responses to involvement in any kind of car accident: angry (over damage to or the loss of property), scared (about what could have happened, and consideration of your own mortality), and injured (and in need of medical attention).

Accordingly, she recommends assessing the damage to yourself before anything else.

"When you are involved in an accident, the initial response is psychological — it takes a moment to process the situation," she told Business Insider.

"Regardless of the incident, there is bound to be a stage of shock. It is important to pay attention to your physiological response, and make sure you are no longer in harm’s way or at risk" of passing out, fainting, or becoming overwhelmed with anger or fear, she said.

Remember to keep yourself safe, first and foremost.

“Most commonly, people immediately get out of the vehicle and assess the damage,” which can pose additional risks, Messerly said, especially if you’re on a major roadway. Don’t put yourself in further danger by responding too quickly, especially if getting out of the vehicle will expose you to oncoming traffic.

"If you are on a major roadway, stay in the vehicle and call law enforcement," she said.

Report the accident

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Messerly said you’re legally obligated to call law enforcement if your accident resulted in more than $500 worth of damage, or if there was any damage to private or city property, such as a fire hydrant, pole, or mailbox.

If there’s any doubt about damage to either vehicle or the surrounding physical area, err on the side of caution and involve the police.

As Messerly explained, regardless of who’s at fault, the objective should be the same: “Minimize liability by documenting facts.”

People who are at fault in fender benders tend to shy away from involving authorities, while those not at fault tend to want a corroborating report.

“The decision will ultimately be made on a case-by-case basis, but it’s a common rule of thumb that law-enforcement reports hold more weight — in all regards — than personal testimony," she said.

If there’s damage to be assessed and documented, don’t move either vehicle before this has happened.

Take photos

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If it’s safe and feasible to do so, walk around the scene of the accident and take pictures not only of any damage, but of “100 feet around the perimeter of the accident,” Messerly said.

Since it’s “hard to prove anything with basic hearsay," she said pictures can serve to piece together an incident in the event of litigation. If the at-fault party seems to be dragging their feet paying for damages later on, photographic evidence will help, should the case end up in small claims court.

“The same issue presents itself if the ‘victim’ continues to tack on additional charges expecting the ‘at-fault’ party to pay," she said.

The best way to avoid this? As Messerly put it, “Document. Document. Document.”

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Ally Spier)