What to do after a car accident?

After a car accident, it's important to stay calm and take the following steps:

Immediately after the accident

Stop your car as soon as possible and turn off the engine. Turn on your hazard lights.
Check for injuries to yourself and your passengers. If anyone is injured, call for help immediately.
If it is a minor collision and there are no injuries, make a note of it in case the other people later try to claim for an injury. You can do this by taking pictures of the damage to both vehicles and the scene of the accident, and by noting down the date, time, and location of the accident.
Call the police. Even if the accident is minor, it is important to report it to the police. This will create a record of the accident and help you with your insurance claim.
Do not apologize or admit responsibility for the accident. This could be used against you later on.
Exchange information with the other driver(s) involved in the accident. This includes their name, address, phone number, insurance information, and the make, model, and registration number of their vehicle.
Take pictures of the scene of the accident, including the damage to all vehicles involved and any other relevant details, such as skid marks and traffic signs.
If there are any witnesses to the accident, get their names and contact information.

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident.They will need to know the details of the accident, including the date, time, location, and the names and insurance information of the other driver(s) involved.
Your insurance company will likely send an adjuster to inspect the damage to your car. They will also want to talk to you about the accident.
Cooperate with your insurance company throughout the claims process. This will help them to process your claim quickly and efficiently.
Be honest and accurate when providing information to your insurance company. If you are found to have provided false information, your claim may be denied.

Your insurance company will assess the damage to your car and determine how much you are entitled to claim.
Once your claim has been approved, your insurance company will ask you send the car to an approved repair shop.
You may need to pay an excess fee, which is a set amount of money that you have to pay towards the cost of repairs. You should check your insurance policy to find out how much your excess fee is. This is only applicable if the fault is yours, otherwise it is the other driver's insurance company that will pay for the repairs.

Be aware of the signs of a crash-for-cash scam. These scams often involve staged accidents, in which the other driver is trying to trick you into making a false insurance claim.
A common scam involves the other driver suddenly braking in front of you, causing a rear-end collision.
If you are suspicious of the other driver, do not exchange insurance information with them. Instead, call the police and report the accident.
Some weeks after the accident, the damage claimed by the other driver may be much more than you remember. This is a common tactic in crash-for-cash scams. If you suspect that you are being targeted by a scam, report it to the police and your insurance company immediately.

By following these steps, you can help ensure that you are able to get the compensation you deserve after a car accident.