Stay calm, document everything related to insurance claims, and call the policeDetermine if someone is injured. Get yourself and your vehicle out of danger. Call a tow truck if necessary. Contact an ambulance if someone is injured.
Don't try to move anyone yourself. Make sure that you, anyone else, and any vehicle are out of the way of oncoming traffic and turn on the hazard lights, if necessary. If you or anyone else involved is injured, call 9-1-1 and ask for help. If there are no obvious injuries immediately, it may not be necessary to call emergency services, but the police should be called to the scene of the incident.
Having a recorded accident report will be important if you need to file a claim for damages and injuries. While it may come to mind to call 911 and check if your car is damaged, other important steps to take after a collision are not so simple. In the meantime, evaluate your injuries. Were you hurt enough to need medical attention? If so, call 911 so they can send emergency personnel.
After moving your car to a safe location, call the police and let them know you've been in a car accident. In some states, including Tennessee, you are legally required to report the accident. It is a common response for an accident victim to apologize to those involved, even if the accident was someone else's fault.
