The Boy Scouts had it right when they picked their motto: Be Prepared. This is especially true when it comes to a car accident. Accidents happen. Catastrophe sometimes strikes. The unthinkable becomes real.

From a simple fire extinguisher or first-aid kit to a Home Fire Escape Route or a Hurricane Survival Kit, planning for the worst is simply smart behavior. It can save your life and it can save you money and hassle, too.

Preparing in advance so you'll know what to do in case of a car accident is just as smart. Considering that well over a half-million people were involved in car accidents in 2006, you're statistically a lot more likely to be involved in an auto accident than a hurricane, a flood or a fire.

How Can You Prepare Yourself for a Car Accident?

Here’s what you need to know:

Always Stop

Stopping is the first unbreakable rule if you’re involved in a car accident, even if it's just a little fender bender. The law is clear; anyone involved in an accident must stop and exchange information. Pull to the side of the road if you can, out of the flow of traffic. If your car is disabled and in the roadway, get yourself safely to the side of the road. Do not stay in your car unless you have no choice. There may be a significant danger of another car running into your stationary vehicle.

Call 911

Even if you don’t think you or any of your passengers are hurt, it’s always a good idea to call for help. The adrenaline shock of being in a wreck can disguise an injury. Even if it turns out that everyone is all right, you'll still be glad the police are there to help clear the mess and file an accident report.

Get the 411

Always keep paper and pen in your glove compartment. Write down all the following information before leaving the scene:

• Names and addresses of all drivers, passengers and witnesses
• Name and badge # of all law enforcement officials and any emergency personnel on the scene
• Driver’s license numbers of all drivers involved
• License plate numbers of all vehicles involved
• Insurance information for all drivers involved
• Make and model of each vehicle

Write down exactly what happened. Do it immediately, while the events are still fresh in your mind. Include as many details about the car accident as possible. Note the exact time of the accident, the road and weather conditions, what direction you were driving and your speed. Then write down exactly what happened. This can be a real help later if there are legal complications.

Say Cheese!

It's a good idea to keep a disposable camera in your car. But if you don't have one, you might be among the millions of Americans carrying around a cell phone with a built-in camera. Get it out and start snapping. Get pictures of the scene from several angles. Document any and all damage, including close-ups. If anyone was injured, try to get pictures of their injuries.

Presumed Innocence

• Never admit fault. You may be absolutely certain that it was your fault and feel like a total jerk, but keep the "mea culpa" to yourself. You can express empathy without admitting you’re to blame. This may help minimize your liability and give your attorney some room to maneuver if it comes to legal claims.
• If you run into an unattended vehicle or object, try to find the owner. If you can't, leave a note containing your name, address and phone number. Record the details of the car accident.

Filing a Claim for the Car Accident

• In all cases, you should call your car insurance company right away. The quicker they know, the quicker they can help. In fact, the contract you have with your insurance company expressly provides that you must contact them as soon as possible.
• If you don’t file a claim within a certain period of time, it could be denied. The time period varies from company to company. Check your policy or ask your agent.
• Remember that some states require that any accident resulting in more than a certain amount of damage must be reported to your Department of Motor Vehicles within a certain period of time.

Note: If there are no injuries resulting from the car accident and the damage is less than or just slightly more than your deductible, take a moment before you make the call to your insurer. Any claim, whether your fault or not, can raise your premium.

"Fix it!" Not So Fast…

You'll be understandably eager to get your car fixed and back in your garage where it belongs. But before you haul it into the shop and give them the go-ahead, make doubly certain that your insurance company has agreed to pay for it!

• There’s a process. If you want the insurance company to pay for the repairs, you need to patiently follow it.
• Your insurer may have its own figure to compare repair shop quotes against. They may send out a claims adjuster to take a look at the damage first hand before authorizing any repairs.
• In general, you can pick where your car goes to get repaired, but some insurance companies will require you to go to a repair shop approved by them.

All New? Double Check

Don’t assume that everything is back to normal once the repairs are complete. Get all of the fixes checked out.

Be sure to keep all paperwork, receipts and a list of repairs.

Having a car accident is a traumatic experience. Don't make it worse than it needs to be by failing to follow the correct procedures to get everything taken care of right the first time.