I Got Into My First Car Crash. Here's What I Exchanged With the Other Driver for Insurance

The car came out of nowhere. I swerved. The brakes engaged, but it was too late. With a thump, my Toyota collided with the larger vehicle. Sweating, I stomped the car to a stop. I stared at the wheel, shocked. It was in this state of mind that I exchanged info with the other driver.

Needless to say, I forgot everything I was supposed to do in the event of an accident. Here’s what I wish I knew as I scrambled to get my documentation together for insurance.

What items you need to have on you

If you get into a car accident, you must exchange auto insurance information with the other driver. Here’s what you should have on hand:

• A phone
• Your insurance card + driver's license

You need the phone to take notes and photos. Chances are, your adrenaline is pumping, making it difficult to think. You may want to call a friend and have them walk you through the necessary steps. I called my mom, who walked me through the process step by step.

You’ll need your insurance card to show to the other driver. Consider taking a photo of this, just in case you lose it. I misplaced mine and had to coordinate with my brother for a picture of my insurance information. It wasn’t a big deal, but I felt bad making the other driver wait.

What you need to do

So, you've been in an accident. You’ve pulled over somewhere safe, and you’re pretty sure you don’t require immediate medical attention. Once you’ve confirmed the other driver is okay, you can start collecting information for your insurance claim.

Here’s what you need to exchange:

1. Insurance information: Your insurance card should be enough. Ensure you get the other driver’s name, insurance company, and policy number.
2. Contact information: Exchange names, numbers, and addresses. 

Once you have the other driver's insurance and contact information, you can document the details of the accident. Take photos, write down their license plate number, and detail how the accident happened before you forget.

Feel free to call a friend or family member to walk you through the process. I called my mom, told her I’d gotten into an accident, and asked her to write down the details. Plus, chatting with someone familiar calmed me down and helped me think clearly.

Insurance covers the cost of repairs

After filing the claim, I turned the car into a shop for repairs. The damage seemed small -- a dent on the rear door, some scuffing. The bill came out to a whopping $4,318.02! That’s enough to empty out my emergency fund and then some. 

My car insurance policy covered 85% of the repair fees. Other than the $500 deductible, repairs only cost me the money I spent on public transportation while my car was in the shop. Without insurance, I would have paid thousands of dollars more.

In some cases, auto insurers will raise your rates in the event of an accident. Unfortunately, my rate will go up. I’ll be shopping around for new insurance and comparing rates.

TL; DR: Exchange insurance and contact information. Document everything, and take photos of the damage. The more information you have, the quicker your claim can move forward. A proper claim filing can save you thousands in repair fees.