The unimaginable has happened – you’ve dropped your shiny new (or not so new) camera and it broke into several different pieces. Everyone with a camera has been there before, whether you’re a professional photographer or just an amateur snapping photos, knowing what to do next is vital to the future of your camera! Here are the first five steps you should take after dropping your camera:

1.Check for any visible damage

First thing you need to do when your drop your camera is check for missing pieces. You’ll want to check the surrounding ground and pick up all the pieces that may have come off in the fall, especially if you are in a public place because the pieces can become quickly scattered. All these pieces are necessary (even if they don’t look it) to putting it back together.

2.Take out the battery

If the battery didn’t come off already, be sure to take it out now! By powering off your camera, you are avoiding any further damage that might occur. Often if your camera is still functioning partially, more damage might occur.

3.Take out your memory card

Your data card is pretty sturdy, so just because your camera is broken, does not mean that your data is too. Some jarring or even a quick dunk in a puddle won’t erase what you had on the card. In all likelihood, all of your information is safe, so don’t forget to remove the card!

4.Check your warranty

When you bought your camera, odds are it came with a warranty or perhaps you purchased one. If so, hopefully you saved the information somewhere easily retrievable. If you camera is actually under warranty, it may help cover the costs of damage repair or even completely replace your equipment all together. Be sure, however, to check the specifics of what exactly is covered and for how long.

5.Check your insurance

Is your camera insured? You can put things like your camera and it’s equipment on a home owners policy, but more comprehensive coverage would be to actually buy camera insurance. Insurance for your camera gear is a great idea if you have multiple pieces of expensive equipment, and simply want the best coverage. This policy can cover you when you’re on the go, shooting on location and anything in between.

If you take immediate action and follow these simple steps, you’ll be more likely to salvage your equipment and data. So next time you accidentally drop you camera, don’t worry, you know how to handle this!