Accidents happen, and on a campus the size of The University of Alabama, they happen frequently.
If you are involved in an automobile accident, stay calm and don’t panic.
Here are a few other things you should do:
- Never leave the scene of an accident. If you leave the scene of an accident where there is damage to property or an injury, you can be charged with a crime.
- Check for injuries. Do a self-evaluation and check on any passengers in your car with you. If it’s safe to do so, check on the driver and passenger of the other vehicle.
- Call 911 or UAPD at 205-348-5454 if the accident occurs on campus or in the general vicinity of campus and someone is injured and requires immediate medical attention.
- If medical care is not needed, contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. If you are on campus or near campus, you can contact UAPD at 205-348-5454.
- If the accident does not involve any apparent injuries, move the vehicles to the side of the road or another close location and turn on your hazard lights.
- When police arrive, have your driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance ready to show them.
- Exchange contact information with the other driver involved and obtain their contact information.
- Ask the police officer to provide the accident report number and how and where a copy of the accident report can be obtained.
If you hit a parked car, you should immediately stop and try to locate and notify the owner of the vehicle. If you can’t locate the owner, you should leave a note with your contact information and a statement about what happened in a conspicuous place on the vehicle, such as under the windshield wiper. Hitting a parked vehicle and then driving away is a crime that can be punished by up to one year in prison and a fine up to $6,000.
Safety Reminder: UA Alert System Test
Weather permitting, the University will test its emergency notification systems, including UA Alerts, the public address system and digital signage Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 11:55 a.m.