With so many people on the road during peak vacation months, it may be a good time to brush up on what you should do if you’re involved in a crash.

Preparedness starts before you leave the driveway. Here are some tips from Community Brokerage:

• Put a disposable camera, pen, and paper in your glove box. Car insurance claims can be settled faster if there’s a good record of what happened. If you can take photographs, collect license plate numbers, and ideally, names and phone numbers of witnesses, these will all help your state or California car insurance company establish facts faster.

If you’re involved in a crash:

a) Move your vehicle out of the roadway, if you can. If your car can be driven, move it off the road a safe distance. Getting off the road helps to avoid a second collision.

b) Turn on your flashers or your lights to be certain your vehicle is visible to other drivers.

c) Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If someone is injured, call 911 immediately.

d) Call local police to report the crash.

e) Call your state or California car insurance company to report the crash. The earlier your state or California car insurance company knows about the crash, the faster it can work to resolve your claim.

f) Document what happened, if you can. If you’re able to do so safely, take photographs, make notes, ask witnesses for names and phone numbers. If you’re not able or cannot do so safely, stand as far from the roadway and the crashed cars as you possibly can.

g) Exchange only your state or California car insurance company name. Don’t discuss the details of your coverage with anyone at the accident scene.

h) Exchange vital information with the other driver(s). Names, addresses, phone numbers are all useful to your state or California car insurance company in settling the claim.

For other safety tips on the road, how to keep your car insurance rates down, or to find an independent state or California car insurance agent, visit www.Direct Choice Insurance .com

Did You Know?

According to Community Brokerage, it’s a good idea to put a disposable camera, pen, and paper in your glove box when you travel. Car insurance claims can be settled faster if there’s a good record of what happened.