by Chandler Kennedy

You’re on your way to school and suddenly you’re in a car crash.

What do you do?

Every year there are over six million car crashes in the U.S., almost two million of them involving teen drivers. Although many students won’t have to go through the shock of a car crash and the nightmare of insurance payments afterwards, some will. Everyone should be prepared, so here are some guidelines on what to do.

First, stop the car. If you’re obstructing traffic and your car isn’t totaled, move to the side of the road or to the nearest exit. Make sure you turn off the ignition-one never knows if a gas tank has cracked or oil is leaking, which could lead to an explosion. 

Make sure everyone is okay before getting out of the car.

Call the police (911). No matter how small the accident, you should always notify the authorities and get a write up for your insurance company. If you even suspect you’re hurt, tell the police. If you don’t, this could be used against you in court.

You need to be prepared to answer the following questions for the 911 operator: What happened? Were you involved in the accident? Where are you? Was anyone injured? What are the vehicles involved? Who was involved in the crash?

Never leave the scene or accept money from the other person or people involved, no matter what sort of rush they’re in. You can be prosecuted for leaving the scene of an accident. 

Call your parents, even if they’re at work. They may have advice or come to help you. 

Never say it’s your fault. You can be sympathetic but never admit fault. This can also be used against you in court. Just state the facts to the police officer so he can write them down.

Exchange the following information with every driver involved: name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, name of insurance company, and policy number. Also, a description of the vehicle year, license plate number, and color can be helpful. The information from witnesses will be good, especially should you go to court. 

You should also write down anything else you can think of that may be helpful. In a situation like this it’s far better to be safe than sorry, because sorry can cause you lots of money in court.

Call your insurance company. They’ll want to know what happened. They may also want a diagram of the location, with street names, vehicle locations, crosswalks, stop signs, traffic lights, and length of skid marks. Other details to include are how fast you were going, time of day, weather conditions, and street lighting. 

You should always keep a photocopy of your license and insurance card in your glove compartment at all times, as well as a camera, pen and paper. Driving without a license or proof of insurance is a misdemeanor and results in a fine.

Now you have a better idea of what to do in case of a car crash. Above all, remain calm. This is not the time to go into hysterics-you can do that when you get your insurance bill and your rates have tripled.

To avoid shock and hefty money problems, never take chances when driving. It will save you money and worries.