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Driving as a teen is a huge step toward freedom. It’s exciting (for teens) and terrifying (for parents) at the same time. As a parent, you’ve helped teach your teen how to drive safely. Part of that training should include the steps to follow if they’ve been involved in an accident.  

We’ve created a simple checklist to print out and stick in the glove compartment as a reference in case of an accident. While we hope you never have to refer to this list, it can provide a sense of calm and order during an often scary and stressful event. 

We’re listing the preferred order of events, but that might not be feasible given the nature of the circumstances.  

• Take a deep breath to calm nerves.  
• Check for injuries. Call 911 if necessary. 
• Take pictures of the scene and other helpful factors, such as the condition of the roads. Take pictures of the vehicle damage from different angles. 
• If possible, move vehicles to the side of the road, out of traffic. 
• Turn on hazard lights or use flares if conditions dictate. 
• Exchange information with others involved in the accident. 
• Take pictures of insurance cards and driver’s license of the driver or write down the information to include: 
• Name, Address, Email, Phone Number 
• Vehicle make and model, License plate number 
• Driver’s license number 
• Insurance information - policy, agent, phone number 
• Call the police. Depending on the nature of the situation, they may or may not respond to the accident scene.  
• If the police do come, get the officer’s name, badge number, and accident report number. 
• If the police do not arrive, depending on the severity of the accident, you may need to file a police report to file an insurance claim. 
• Document the accident as best you can before you leave the scene - time of day, location, direction of travel, weather, etc.  

Do Not: 

• Panic. Remember to stay calm to make responsible and wise decisions. 
• Leave the scene of the accident until the proper tasks have been completed. 
• Admit fault or take blame. 
• Sign anything other than documentation from law enforcement. 
• Discuss the details with anyone except for the police officers. 
• Post information to social media. 

Accident Information 

Date/Time: _______________________________ 

Location/Intersection: _______________________ 

Direction of Travel: _________________________ 

Road/Weather Conditions: ___________________ 

Pictures of the Scene? Y/N __________________ 

Other Drive Information 

Name: ___________________________________ 

Phone Number: ____________________________ 

Address: _________________________________ 

Email Address: ____________________________ 

Vehicle Make/Model: ________________________ 

Driver’s License Number: ____________________ 

Insurance Information: _______________________ 

Pictures of License & Insurance? Y/N ___________ 

Passenger/Witness Information 

__________________________________________ 

__________________________________________ 

__________________________________________ 

__________________________________________ 

Police Information 

Officer Name: _______________________________ 

Badge Number: _____________________________ 

Accident Report Number: ______________________ 

Originally printed in the May 2024 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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