Take these steps after an auto accident

(NC)-Most of us have little or no experience at the scene of a traffic accident - and yet knowing in advance the right steps to take is important for every driver. Regardless if the collision is a small fender bender or a major accident, knowing what to do will make the experience a little less frightening and will help you avoid mistakes.

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), the agency responsible for regulating insurance in Ontario, has created a brochure that provides a useful list of steps that you can follow, in case you're involved in an auto accident. Below is a summary of the information found in the What To Do After An Auto Accident brochure, which can be downloaded online at www.fsco.gov.on.ca under the Publications section.

Step 1: Stop your vehicle. If you don't, you may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Step 2: If anyone is injured, or if the total damage to all the vehicles and property involved appears to be more than $1,000, call 911. If no one is injured and total damage to all the vehicles and property involved appears to be less than $1,000, call your local police for instructions. If the police are not dispatched, you must report to a Collision Reporting Centre within 24 hours. To locate a Collision Reporting Centre in your area, check your local phone directory or the Internet.

Step 3: Turn on your vehicle's hazard lights, and if it is safe to do so, move your vehicle to the side of the road.

Step 4: Record the names, addresses, telephone numbers, licence plates, driver's licence numbers, and insurance information of the drivers and the owners involved. (A downloadable accident worksheet is provided in the electronic brochure.)

Step 5: Obtain contact information for all passengers and witnesses.

Step 6: Record specific details about the scene of the accident.

Step 7: Report the accident to your broker, agent, or insurance company as soon as possible. Information on filing an insurance claim is available online at www.fsco.gov.on.ca.

Another valuable source of information on this subject is the After An Auto Accident web page, located on the ServiceOntario website at www.serviceontario.ca/autoaccident. This web page is a one-stop information centre on a wide range of topics, including: steps to take after an auto accident, making an insurance claim, avoiding insurance scams, auto repair tips and laws that pertain to auto accidents.

- News Canada