Right after the Accident
If you get into an accident, the first thing that you will want to do is pull your car off to the road to a safe location, if it is possible. Check yourself and your passengers to see if there are any injuries. If your accident involves another party, check to see if they are okay as well. If anybody has experienced a life threatening injury, locate a phone and call 911. If nobody is hurt, you will still want to contact the police in order to get a police report, but you don't need to call 911 if the local police department has a direct number. You will also want to get the insurance information and phone number of the other party. If there are witnesses, try to get their contact information as well. If you have a digital camera handy, you may also want to take any pictures of the automobile damage.
If the police officer does not feel the need to file an accident report, see if they will file an incident report instead. If that is not possible, try to get another party, such as a mall security officer or a shop owner, to create an incident report. The report is important because it helps determine who was at fault in an accident.
Call Your Insurance Company
You will want to contact your insurance company as soon as possible. If your insurance company takes claims 24 hours a day, you might even be able to call at the scene of the accident. Even if the other driver caused the accident, you still want to work through your own insurance carrier. Usually, they will take care of all the details involved with working with the other insurance company.
Write Down What Happened
At some point, you will have to talk one or both insurance companies about what happened. It may take a while for them to come and interview you, so you might want to set some time aside to write down what happened, while it is still fresh in your mind.
Speak with an Adjuster
Eventually, you will have to speak to an insurance adjuster. They will send someone out to interview you about what happened, and take pictures of your vehicle. They will probably tape your conversation in case they need to refer to it later. If you have collision coverage, or if the other party was at fault, your insurance company will decide how much to give you for repairs. If they decide that your car is totaled, you will be given the value of the car before it was totaled.
If You and the Insurance Company Disagree
If you and your insurance company have a disagreement over the amount of money they are offering to repair your car, you will need to fill out a form of arbitration. The dispute over the amount will then need to be resolved. If you have a disagreement with the other party's insurance company, you may need to take the matter to court.