Car accidents are scary, intense and inevitable. For high school students just beginning to drive, these crashes are much more frequent and much more confusing when they do happen. It is therefore important to know how to deal with them. Because it can be hard to think clearly in the wake of an accident, Verde has compiled a list of the steps to be taken after a crash.

1. Safety First

The first action you must take in the event of a car crash, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles, is to ensure your immediate safety. If you are in a dangerous situation, such as the middle of traffic, you should move yourself and your car out of the way (to the side of the road).

2. Check for Injuries

The second step is to determine if there are any injuries. If there are, you should call 911. Even if there aren’t any injuries, you are legally obligated to call the police.

3. Exchange Info

Make sure to exchange names and insurance info with other crash participants.

“The most important thing, assuming no one is injured, is to exchange information with other driver(s) involved,” State Farm insurance agent Bob Anderson says. “Try and take the emotion out of the conversation.  Nothing will be settled on the side of the road.”

Be polite and courteous. You are legally obligated to give your vehicle’s make, model, year, color, Vehicle Identification Number, your name, your insurance company’s name, your insurance agent’s contact information and your insurance policy number.

4. Document Damage

Document any damage. The easiest way to do this is to use your phone to take pictures of the vehicles’ license plates as well as any damages inflicted on either vehicle or on other property. This information will be useful when you are filing your insurance claim and can also help prevent fraudulent claims directed against you.

“Hopefully, all parties involved in any accident tell the truth, but it doesn’t always go down like that,” Anderson says.

5. Insurance

Call your insurance company. If necessary, request a tow from them. They can also help you reserve a rental car and repair your own, if needed.