First Steps to Take

Accidents happen – but this may be your first vehicle accident. If you’re involved in an accident, there are a few key steps to take that will make the event, and those that follow, a little bit easier for you, your passengers, your vehicle and your report-a-claim process.

When you are involved in a vehicle accident:

Prevent Further Risk

Ensure that you, your passengers and others involved are not at further imminent risk of injury or harm after the accident.

Call 911

1. Contact Emergency Services – Police, Fire and/or Ambulance as required.
2. If you are unable to contact them, ask a witness at the scene to call for you.
3. Provide them with your name, location, the type of services you require, the number of vehicles involved and the severity of the accident.

Exchange information

1. Get the contact and vehicle information for any other drivers involved
2. Provide your contact and vehicle information to any other drivers involved

Collect information

1. If you have a smartphone with you and are not currently operating your vehicle consider photographing the license plates, vehicle make/model of any other vehicles, any damage that has occurred and the situation of the vehicles before they are moved
2. Photographs can also assist the report-a-claim process to recall exactly what occurred later on.
3. dentify and record the contact information of any witnesses at the scene

Record information

As soon as you’re able, write out your notes of what occurred leading up to, during and after the accident while it’s still fresh in your mind. Your notes should include:

1. Circumstances
2. Vehicles – for all vehicles: quantity, make/model, colour, position, direction, lane, physical location and damage description
3. Date and time
4. Conversations

Report-a-Claim

1. Collect all of the information you have gathered from the accident
2. Refer to your insurer(s) website for more information and tips
   • CBC www.icbc.com/claims/how_claim
   • Canadian Direct Insurance www.canadiandirect.com/
3. Have your policy number(s) and policy papers handy
4. Call your insurer(s) Report-a-Claim as soon as possible