What Should You Do When Your Car Is Involved in an Accident?
4 Answers
First, get out of the car and show concern for the injured party without any blame. However, do not move or touch an injured person who cannot get up. Take photos of the scene. A single photo should include the position of the injured party + the vehicle's position + lane divider markings as reference. If it's not possible to capture the entire scene in one shot, take two separate photos: one of the injured party + lane divider markings, and another of the vehicle's position + lane divider markings. If the injured party cannot move, make sure the vehicle remains in its original position, call 110, and avoid discussing fault with the other party before the police arrive. While waiting, continue to verbally care for the injured party (but remember not to perform any first aid—if the injuries are severe, call 120 for emergency assistance). When the police arrive, do not argue about fault with the other party. Only do two things: explain the situation (without stating your personal opinion on fault) and submit the accident photos. Let the police determine fault. It’s inevitable that your license or vehicle may be impounded in cases involving injuries. Carefully read the impound notice and keep the vehicle impound receipt. Follow the police's instructions to take the injured party to the hospital, but try to avoid paying any expenses upfront. If the injured party’s family arrives, inform them that the vehicle has been impounded by traffic police and that you have insurance. Exchange phone numbers and get the contact details of the other party. Remind the injured party to keep all medical invoices and not to use their health insurance card (hospitals generally know that expenses from traffic accidents are not covered by insurance). If the injured party continues to press for payment, politely inform them that you are not carrying cash and firmly state, "I will not pay any expenses before the accident liability is determined." If the police try to mediate, stick to your principles and focus on leaving the situation as soon as possible. Notify your insurance company and record the case number. The next day, call the injured party to check on them but avoid visiting the hospital. Arrange a mediation time over the phone. Mediation principles: Respect the traffic police’s decision on fault. Never accept a proposal to shift partial liability to full liability for insurance purposes. Remember, if an agreement isn’t reached, you can go home and discuss it before trying again. For cases involving disability or large compensation claims, consider hiring a lawyer. First, obtain the accident liability determination document to retrieve your vehicle or license. The mediation agreement can wait. Let the injured party focus on treatment, but emphasize that once they are discharged, you will not be responsible for further issues. Take your car to a 4S shop for damage assessment and repairs, paying the costs yourself (if you must pay, pay your own expenses). Keep the accident liability determination document, damage assessment report, repair list, and invoices. Once the injured party completes treatment, arrange a mediation session at the traffic police station. If the compensation falls within the insurance company’s coverage, settle it on the spot. Medical expenses = (medical record card + discharge summary + expense list + invoices). Transportation costs = (transportation invoices). Disability compensation = (disability assessment report). Lost wages = (income proof, preferably tax records—an employer-stamped income proof is weaker without tax records). Additional costs like nutrition fees and follow-up treatment should be calculated by the traffic police and listed in the mediation agreement. If all required documents are provided, exchange them for cash. If the other party demands compensation beyond the insurance company’s coverage (insurance payment and mediation are separate—do not say in front of the police that you’ll pay whatever the insurance covers), politely inform them that they can file a lawsuit if the difference exceeds 3,000 yuan.
That day I was chatting with a friend about car accidents, and my personal experience tells you, don’t panic when an accident happens. The first thing is to ensure safety—I immediately stopped the car, turned on the hazard lights, pulled the handbrake, and turned off the engine to prevent a secondary accident. If someone is injured, call 120 for help immediately, and don’t move the injured person yourself. The second step is to call the police—I dialed 110 or 122 and waited for the officers to handle the scene, describing the location and situation clearly. Next, exchange information—I noted the license plate numbers, contact details, and driver’s licenses with the other driver. For minor scratches, I used my phone to take photos of the damage, license plates, and the surrounding environment as evidence for insurance claims. Then, I contacted the insurance company to report the accident and filled out the forms as instructed. Throughout the process, it’s important to stay calm. I remember one minor accident where I was so flustered I almost said the wrong thing and was later warned for illegal parking. In short, safety comes first—don’t argue about who’s right or wrong on the spot, leave it to the professionals.
Having driven for decades at my age, I've encountered quite a few accidents. The lesson learned is to always prioritize personal safety first. If I get into a collision, I pull over, turn on the hazard lights, and set up a warning triangle. If no one is injured, I call the police (122 or 110) and avoid private settlements to prevent future troubles. I check myself and passengers for any discomfort, even minor scratches warrant a hospital visit. When exchanging information, I note down the other party's name, phone number, license plate, and ID, taking some photos of the scene for documentation. The most crucial step is contacting the insurance company—I call their hotline to describe the incident and follow their guidance for subsequent compensation. If the other party becomes unreasonable, I don't argue and wait for traffic police judgment. I've learned the hard way—private settlements without evidence almost left me paying for repairs out of pocket. After an accident, don't rush to drive off; ensure the vehicle is in proper condition before safely restarting. Brush up on traffic laws and stay vigilant about road conditions to prevent accidents proactively.
As a young driver who just got my license, I was a bit at a loss when experiencing a rear-end collision. The first thing I did was to park the car safely, turn on the hazard lights, and after ensuring my own safety, got out to assess the situation. The other driver also stepped out, and we calmly exchanged driver's license information and contact details including phone numbers. We took photos of the scene to document the location. Remember to call the police at 122, report the accident location, and wait for the officers to determine liability. Afterwards, I contacted the insurance claims specialist to explain the incident in detail and assist with filling out the forms. Through this process, I learned not to panic and that moving the scene around only adds trouble. After the accident, I checked my car's condition and found minor damage that required repairs, so I also took the opportunity to service the tires to ensure driving safety. It's really important to keep the phone aside and focus on driving—don't follow my example of getting distracted, which led to the accident. Following these procedures carefully made the aftermath much easier to handle.
