We all hope to avoid car accidents altogether, but sometimes they happen. When they do, the best way to protect yourself is to know your rights and responsibilities ahead of time. Here’s a quick guide to what to do following a car accident in Calgary to make sure your legal interests remain intact.

1. Get to Safety

If you’re able to move without injuring yourself, exit your vehicle and get to safety—ideally, onto the sidewalk or other pedestrian area, or as far off the side of the road as possible if a pedestrian area isn’t available. Don’t leave the scene of the accident, but get out of traffic to avoid further injury.

2. Contact Emergency Services

You don’t necessarily need to call the police for very minor fender-benders, but if there’s significant property damage or any injuries at all—suffered by you, someone else in your vehicle, anyone in the other vehicle(s) involved in the accident, or a pedestrian—it’s important that you call the Calgary Police or other local law enforcement, and emergency medical services if necessary.

3. Exchange Contact Information, Not Conversation

If you and the other driver(s) involved in the accident are able to exchange insurance and contact information it is wise to do so, but you should limit your discussion of the accident, including but not limited to saying anything that could be construed as admitting fault for the accident. Statements made at the scene of the accident can impact future personal injury cases.

If the other driver is acting at all aggressive or unapproachable, simply contact local law enforcement and let them handle the exchange of information