Page 22 - AAA Central Penn - AAA Now! Winter 2014

22 january/february 2014
By Robin Jones
Justin Lin’s first auto accident was, fortunately, a
minor one. While waiting in line to leave the high
school parking lot, Lin inched forward just a bit
too far—and bumped the car in front of him. He
motioned the other driver to the side of the parking
lot, where they examined both cars for damage (they
didn’t see any) and exchanged phone numbers. Then
Lin handed his insurance card to the other driver, and
she drove away with it. “I had no idea what to do,”
says Lin, who was 16 at the time. “I just did what I’d
heard other people say to do.”
Lin’s inexperience may have caused him to skip a
few steps in the post-accident protocol recommended
by many insurers. But even veteran drivers can get
frazzled and forget to record crucial information.
Here’s a quick guide on what to do after a collision.
Assess the Situation
Before you do anything else, take a deep breath.
Then ask yourself these questions.
First: Are you injured? If you or anyone else is hurt,
call 911 immediately.
Second: Is your car operable? If so, drive to the
side of the road or to a safe place so that you don’t
block traffic and cause another accident. If your car
is so badly damaged that it can’t be moved, turn
on your emergency flashers and stay in the car
until help arrives.
Third: Should you call the police? “It’s always a good
idea to call 911 following an accident,” says Arman-
do Garcia, community outreach officer for Santa
Ana CHP. “However, if there are no injuries, only
property damage, the parties involved can agree to
just exchange information and leave the scene.”
Gather Information
Once you get to a safe place, and if you feel
comfortable doing so, start exchanging information.
Get the names, driver’s license numbers, addresses,
and phone numbers of any drivers involved. Record
the color, make, model, year, license plate number,
and registered owner for each vehicle, and get the
names and phone numbers of any passengers or
witnesses. Then, get the names and policy numbers
of the drivers’ insurance companies. If it is more
convenient, take photos on your phone capturing
all the necessary information. Lastly, give the same
information about yourself to other drivers.
Next, gather information about the accident
scene. Sketch out the positions of the vehicles at
the time of the accident. Note the location, time,
and weather and road conditions. Use your cell
phone to photograph the scene and the cars
involved, even if there’s no apparent damage.
If the police come to the scene, write down the
officers’ names, badge numbers, and jurisdiction,
and ask them how your insurance company can
get a copy of the police report, if one is filed.
Call your Insurance Company
Determining fault is best left to an insurance
professional, so don’t admit fault and call your
insurance company as soon as possible, even from
the accident scene. When you get home, write a
detailed account of the collision and download the
photos you took. This information will be useful
during the insurance claims process and could help
if you end up involved in a court case.
Your insurance agent can provide more
information. Stop in at your AAA Central Penn office,
call 888-787-7633 or go to AAA.com .
Crash Course: Stay Calm
(and other steps to take following an accident) Continued from page 21
Teen Driver Licensing
appointment to take a road test with a certified
state examiner. (This can be done online at
www.dmv.state.pa.us, or by calling 1-800-423-5542.)
Once the junior license has been successfully
obtained, the new driver may drive unsupervised
between the hours of 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. They must
still be supervised by a parent or guardian during the
remaining hours of the day, with some exceptions
(i.e. job, charity and volunteer activities).
Also, for the first 6 months, junior license holders
may not drive with more than one passenger
under the age of 18 who is not an immediate
family member, unless accompanied by a parent or
guardian. After those first 6 months, they may drive
with up to three unrelated passengers under 18 if they
have not been convicted of a driving violation or have
been partially or fully responsible for a reportable
crash. They must still be accompanied by a parent or
guardian if they wish to carry more than three young
passengers until they get their full driver’s license. In
any event, regardless of how long the junior license
has been held, under Pennsylvania law, the number
of passengers carried is restricted to the number of
seatbelts available in the vehicle.
Senior License
Teen drivers are eligible for a full and unrestricted
senior license at age 18; however, they can get their
license 6 months earlier if they have held their junior
license for at least 1 year, have remained free of
violations and crashes, and have taken a certified
driver education course (classroom and behind-
the-wheel) from their school, AAA Central Penn or
other PA Department of Education-approved private
driving school.
Although the state does not place any night
driving or passenger limitations on teens who have
earned their unrestricted license, AAA Central Penn
encourages parents to maintain their own rules
based on their assessment of their new driver’s skill
level and maturity.
A parent-teen driving agreement can be very
helpful in this regard and throughout the entire
learning process. Sample agreements are available
from a variety of sources, including the AAA Driving
School, the CDC and many car insurance companies.
AAANow! TM insurance
SERVICES