If a Crash Occurs

If there has been an injury, call emergency services for help. Do not leave the scene of a crash until all matters have been taken care of. Move the vehicle only if its position puts you in danger, or you are instructed to move it by a police officer.

Give only the necessary information to police and other parties involved in the crash.

For emergency towing see Roadside Assistance Program .

Gather the following information:

  • Driver name, address, and telephone number.
  • Driver license number.
  • Owner name, address, and telephone number.
  • Vehicle license plate number.
  • Vehicle make, model, and model year.
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
  • Insurance company and policy number.
  • General description of the damage to the other vehicle.

Choose a reputable repair facility that uses quality replacement parts. See “Collision Parts” earlier in this section.

If the airbag has inflated, see What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? .

    See also:

    Trip Odometer
    The trip odometer can show how far the vehicle has been driven since the trip odometer was last reset. The trip odometer is accessed and reset through the Driver Information Center (DIC). See Driver ...

    Driving On Grades
    Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you might have to use your brakes so much that they would get hot and no longer w ...

    Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs
    Some state/provincial and local governments have or may begin programs to inspect the emission control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection could prevent you from getting a v ...