Learning to drive is a right of passage for many teens. While it is exciting to finally sit in the driver’s seat, once you get there it can be quite daunting. As Academy girls start getting their licenses, being in an accident becomes a real fear and with good reason. In 2020, teen drivers aged 15-19 were involved in 84,052 accidents. The numbers are not in our favor.

Unfortunately, I was in a car accident the day before school started this year. Having three airbags deploy, being questioned by police and paramedics, and seeing my car totaled was (to say the least) a lot. I was fortunate to walk away from the accident without a lot of physical harm, however, becoming a teen statistic was definitely not what I had envisioned when I got my license. Although sharing that I was in an accident is not something I am excited to do, I wanted to use this experience to help others who might find themselves in the same situation.

1. Try to remain calm. This is easier said than done, but I was surprised at my ability to stay composed and I believe this helped make a not-good situation, better.
2. If possible move your car safely to the side of the road. This was not an option for me because my car was not driveable. I was lucky that someone stopped and helped me out of my car and get to safety. 
3. If you or anyone else is hurt, call 911. I was fortunate that my car was equipped with technology that did this. I had strong ringing in my ears from the airbags deploying, and I vaguely remember hearing someone talking to me in the car, but I did not answer because I think I was in shock. That is okay, if you do not answer and an accident is detected, they will send help.
4. Mallory Ryan (‘26) said, “In my personal experience, stay calm and be patient with whoever is in the other car. Reach out to an adult you trust and document pictures of the crash.” If you are able, call a guardian to inform them of the accident. Hopefully, someone will be able to get to you. In my case, my dad was at work and my mom was in the shower at the time I was trying to reach them. I just kept on calling until someone picked up and said they could come to the scene of the accident. In my case, having Life360 was particularly helpful because my parents were able to see exactly where I was.
5. The other party may not be cooperative. Just be patient and make sure to get the information such as the insurance and registration from the other driver. Take pictures of the insurance card and registration. The police officer called to help you should record this information, but in my case, the officer got the wrong information for the other driver. If you do not have the correct information, you will not be able to contact the insurance of the other party for compensation. 
6. Get pictures and videos of both party’s cars, the license plates, and the scene of the accident. Recording all the damage can help with insurance claims. In my case, I had a blinking yellow light and I filmed the intersection so I had no problem proving that I was not at fault.
7. Also, if there is a witness who stops to talk to you, make sure to get their information. They can be important in testifying to the police or the insurance companies. I did have a witness and the insurance company did contact her for a statement. 
8. It is always a good idea to go to a doctor right after the accident. I was fortunate enough that my pediatrician was able to take me right away. Even though the paramedics do a quick assessment at the accident scene, getting a more thorough checkup is ideal. 
9. If you are not at fault, contact the other party’s insurance first and file a claim through them. I was always under the impression that you should contact your own insurance first, fortunately, a family friend advised that it was best to start with theirs. 
10. Contact your own insurance and inform them of the claim made to the other party’s insurance and the situation surrounding the accident.
11. The other party’s insurance may require an attorney to speak to you. I did not have to do this since the other party took responsibility. I would suggest you have a parent/guardian present if you are required to do so. I also asked the police officer at the scene to wait to question me until I had a parent present. He was not agreeable to this so I just provided minimum information until my mom arrived.

Accidents can be scary, for both new and experienced drivers. It is important, however, to remember to stay calm and not to panic. Mariana Llano (‘27) said, “Stay calm and don’t stress about it.”

And remember to buckle up!