YOUNGSTOWN What to do if you're in a car crash

Wait for the police to arrive, an insurance expert says. But there's more to it than that.
YOUNGSTOWN -- As you are waiting at a red light, you hear the sound of screeching tires then -- boom! -- your vehicle lurches forward.
You check to see if your body is still working, then you get out to survey the damage. The driver of the car that hit asks if you are OK, then offers to leave a copy of his insurance card with you because he has to go.
What should you do?
According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, an estimated 6 million auto accidents happened in 2000 and an almost similar number last year.
As the number of accidents rises each year, the FARS shows that most Americans are not sure what to do if they are involved in an accident.
Call the police: Kathryn Thomas, a State Farm Insurance agent in Austintown, said the first thing you need to do is call the police after an accident "no matter how minor the accident might be."
The main purpose for calling the police is as simple as safety and also to make sure all the information will be correct for the insurance company to check.
Never settle a car accident by just exchanging phone numbers and insurance companies, Thomas added. Request medical assistance if necessary.
"Depending of the severity of the accident, remove the vehicle from the roadway to prevent more accidents," said Sgt. Ken Feigert of the Liberty police department.
Ready papers: "Make sure you have your driver's license, insurance papers and vehicle registration ready for the officer [who will investigate the accident]," Feigert added. The accident must be reported to the insurance company to take care of any damage cost, and you may also want to call a lawyer.
An auto insurance policy is actually a package of different coverage. Most states require you to purchase a minimum amount of certain kinds of coverage, Thomas said.
Car insurance coverage can range from liability coverage, the foundation of any auto insurance policy, and is required in most states; collision coverage with pays for car repairs if you are involved in an accident; and comprehensive coverage with pays for damages not caused by auto accidents but by theft or vandalism.
Cover yourself: If you cause a serious accident, minimum insurance may not cover you completely. That's why it's always good to buy more than what your state requires, Thomas added.
"The cheapest rate isn't always the best," Thomas said. "Remember, you get what you pay for."
If a person is not prepared with auto insurance and causes an accident, that person will be charged directly for all damages and may have his license suspended until he pays in full, Feigert added.