Last week I had the unfortunate experience of rear-ending a car. It was everything I had imagined it to be: scary, nerve-racking, and eye opening. However, no one had prepared me for the sheer rage of the driver in the car that I had hit. Now, I know that there are people who would not erupt like this middle-aged man did, but after going through this incident myself, I feel a responsibility to teach others the proper car accident etiquette.

There are three crucial steps – preferably to be performed in the order that they are listed – in order to act responsibly when someone has hit your car.

Step 1: Keep your cool. The worst thing one can do is freak out. Not only does it make you look like a lunatic, but it also turns an already upsetting moment for the other driver into a potentially life-threatening situation. Okay, so maybe that is a bit of an overreaction, but when a stranger is screaming, cursing, and waving their arms violently in the air it seems completely realistic. Simply avoid going this route. It is okay to be angry – someone has rammed into your car after all – but don’t lose your head.

Step 2: Be empathetic. Like my mother always says, “They are not called on-purposes, they are accidents,” and we all know that they happen. Perhaps you have been lucky enough in the past to have never been in a car accident, but chances are you have made at least one mistake in your life and you know how it feels to mess up. So again, no screaming and please no lecturing.

Step 3: Give and take down important information. After the initial shock is over, both parties involved must exchange license, registration, and insurance information. If any part of this step is forgotten, it can cause major difficulties in the future when fixing any damage caused by the accident.

Now you may be thinking, “Who is this 17-year-old girl telling me the proper way to behave?” To answer, I say I am an accident survivor. I have been through the tornado of nerves, swear words, and flailing limbs and have made it out on the other side. I do not claim to be an expert on the subject, but from the aftermath of my incident, I hope to protect others from experiencing anything like it.