Being in a car accident is a scary situation, even if the accident is minor. Knowing how you’re supposed to respond and the steps you need to take may help alleviate the stress of the situation.

In the first of our three-part series on car accidents, here’s what you need to know about what to do if you’re in a car accident in Ontario.

What to Do Immediately After the Accident

• Stay at the scene of the accident and remain calm.
• Make sure you and your passengers are not injured.
• If it is safe to do so, move your vehicle off of the roadway.
• Check to see if the passengers of the other car are injured. If anyone is injured in either car, call 911 immediately.
• Check the damage to your car and take photos of it.
• Even if there are no injuries, you should call 911 if there is more than $2,000 worth of damage between both vehicles, or if you suspect that a criminal offense such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has taken place.
• Call the nearest police station for instructions on how to report the accident. If an officer does not come to the site of the collision, then you must go to a collision reporting centre to report the accident within 24 hours. A collision reporting centre is a location within Ontario where drivers can go to report a collision with the assistance of a police officer. They are designed to help drivers self-report accidents while freeing up local police for more pressing issues.
• Exchange information with the other driver, including: driver’s license numbers, the name and contact information of each driver, insurance policy numbers, license plate numbers, and names of the car insurance companies.
• Once all of these steps have been completed, it is safe to leave the scene. If you cannot drive your car, you will need to call a tow truck. Be sure to find out how much towing costs will be and never sign anything without understanding what you are signing. Ask the tow truck driver to take your vehicle to the nearest collision reporting centre.

Find the Collision Reporting Centre nearest your car accident here, or call 416-808-2222 (in the GTA).

• As soon as possible, write down information about the weather and road conditions, as well as the time and location of the accident.

Read part 2 of this series:       Car Accident Reporting: What Are the Rules in Ontario?

Read part 3 of this series:       Car Accidents in Ontario: What to Do When the Driver is Uninsured

If you find that you need a little extra cash to get you through a short-term financial crisis like a car accident, Pay2Day can help. Find a retail store near you to get started.

[cta id=’15317′]