If you are able to safely do so and are not injured, move yourself and your car to the side of the road or out of traffic. Turn off your car, use your hazard lights, and set up road flares if you have them.

In the case of a minor fender-bender or a major collision, call the police. The responding officers will fill out an accident report and document the scene. If the police can’t come, you can go to the nearest police station and complete a report yourself. When you file a claim with your insurer, they may ask for a copy of the police report to help with the claims process.

After making sure you and any passengers are uninjured, exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. Check out this article to see a list of what info you should exchange.

The Insurance Information Institute recommends that you avoid discussing fault when going over the facts with the other driver. When you file an insurance claim, the adjuster reviewing your claim will determine who’s at fault based on an inspection of the vehicles/property damaged, information provided by you and the other parties involved in the accident, and any supporting documentation, like the police report or photographs from the scene.

In order to help protect yourself, the Insurance Information Institute recommends taking the following steps:

• Identify the officers.
• Get a copy of the accident report.
• Take pictures.
• Take down names.
• Talk to witnesses.

You may want to call your insurance agent while you’re at the scene. That way, they can tell you exactly what they will need to in order to process your claim and what to expect during the claims process.