Auto accidents are never planned events, and they often occur at the most inconvenient times. While dealing with a car collision is never easy, knowing which steps to take immediately can make dealing with your insurance claim easier down the road. What you do immediately after an accident can have a significant impact on how much your insurance claim is paid as well as your future insurance rates. An important part of handling your auto collision is knowing how to protect yourself legally in order to get the most out of your insurance claim.
Don't leave the scene. Keep Calm. Do not argue, accuse anyone or make any admission of blame for the accident. If vehicles are operable, move them to the shoulder of the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic.
Call 911. For major accidents this goes without saying, but for minor car collisions, calling 911 may not be as obvious. Any medical issues - even minor ones - need to be addressed immediately, but it's also important to get a police officer on the scene of the accident as soon as possible. Calling 911 is the fastest way to make sure both parties are attended to medically as well as legally.
Get the other party's contact information. Regardless of which party was at fault, you will both need one another's contact and insurance information in order for both of you to file your insurance claims. Which party's insurance carrier you choose to file a claim through depends on what type of collision insurance you both have. If the other party has insufficient liability, you will have no choice but to file a claim through your own insurance carrier.
Record any third party witnesses. Similar to obtaining a police report, obtaining the report of a third party witness to the accident can bolster your case if you choose to dispute the insurance company's settlement amount, or if you intend to sue for damages. Look for people nearby who saw the accident and write down their contact information. Obtain a brief written statement from them on the scene, if possible.
Have your vehicle brought to an auto body shop. Some insurance companies have a "preferred auto body shops" they ask their clients to visit. You as the auto owner are under no obligation to use the collision repair shop recommended to you by your insurance company; you have the right to choose your collision repair shop of choice. If you're unsure about the estimates your carrier's preferred shop gives you, try shopping around to other collision repair shops to get a second or third opinion. Accredited and reputable collision repair shops often offer worthwhile value-added services, such as insurance claims filing assistance and free towing.
Contact your insurance carrier. Even if the other party was at fault, collision insurance claims are usually processed faster by your own insurance carrier. Once you contact them, they will want to appraise the damage and obtain a repair estimate. If your repair shop is helping you file your claim, they may be able to provide this information directly to the insurance carrier without requiring a visit from the adjuster.
Know your policy. Don't wait until after an accident to find out that your policy doesn't cover costs for towing or a replacement rental car. For only a few dollars a month, you can add coverage for rental car reimbursement which provides a rental car while your vehicle is in the repair shop.
.jpg)
.jpg)
