What to Do After a Car Accident

If you’ve been in a car accident, check to see if you and your passengers are ok, and then call the authorities. Calling the proper authorities is always recommended to document the accident also. If you feel at all affected physically, going to the hospital is recommended, as you may not be able to claim accident-related health issues a certain period of time after the accident occurs. When you’re shaken up, it can be difficult to think about what comes next, though, so it’s a good idea to have a process to follow before an accident happens. Been in an accident recently? Contact us if you need assistance for what to do with your vehicle. Otherwise, continue reading to learn more!

Here’s What to Do After a Car Accident

Steps to Take After Minor Accidents

Wondering what to do after a car accident? Whether you’ve been in a fender-bender at a local Georgetown intersection or you were unlucky enough to back into a light post or divider in a Cameron parking lot (it happens), here’s what you should do after a minor car accident:

1. First and most importantly, check to see if you or your passengers require immediate medical attention. If they do, phone an ambulance ASAP.
2. If you’re in stable condition, pull your vehicle over to somewhere safe. While you don’t want to engage in a “hit and run”, you also don’t want to block traffic. Find a suitable, safe location near the scene of the accident. Try to take pictures of the accident scene first, though, for insurance documentation and fault-finding purposes.
3. Call the proper authorities.Call the police. Especially if the other driver suggests handling things without the police, you can always decide to settle later on, even if you call the police. If you don’t, a police report won’t be filed, and it will be harder to file an insurance claim. Some states, in fact, require a police report to be filed before filing an auto collision claim.
4. Exchange contact information.Exchange insurance policy information with the other driver(s) involved in the accident, along with contact information. You should also snap photos of the other driver’s license, license plates, and insurance cards. Look and see if there were any witnesses to the accident — if there were, you should get their contact information, too.
5. Document your vehicle’s damage.The more documentation you get after an accident, the better.Take pictures of the damage to both your car and the other car(s) involved. If possible, try to safely get a photo of the scene of the accident as well.
6. Call your insurance provider.The faster you call your insurance company, the faster the claims process can start.

Steps to Take After Major Accidents

Major accidents differ from minor accidents in that they result in serious bodily injuries of one or many people, and possibly even fatalities. If you’ve been involved in a major collision, here are the steps you should take.

1. Call 911 right away. Do not delay. If you or anyone else is critically injured, you should alert emergency personnel or have someone call on your behalf ASAP. The police and EMTs in an ambulance should both come to help you and assess the scene and damage, respectively. If you need immediate medical attention and cannot document important information on your own, the chances are good that the police will have considered this. That said, it’s always important to follow up to make sure you have all the information you need.
2. Contact your insurance provider.Even if someone already filed the claim on your behalf while you were receiving medical attention, you should contact your insurance provider with a follow-up call. Youll probably need to provide your own account of the accident as well.
3. Follow up with your physician.Still feeling pain following the accident and treatment by emergency personnel? You should visit your primary care physician for additional assistance.

Learn How to File a Car Accident Insurance Claim

It’s usually not too time-consuming to file an insurance claim, but it can get confusing. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of things to keep in mind when filing an insurance claim. While the process may differ slightly depending on your provider and coverage, learning how to file a car insurance claim is mostly universal. When you file a claim with your insurance provider, you’ll need to provide the following information to them:

• Your insurance policy number
• A detailed description of how the accident occurred
• The date, time, and location of the accident
• All the collected contact and insurance information from other parties involved
• The name of the police department involved, if applicable, as well as the police report incident number

After providing your insurance carrier with the above information, moving forward, your vehicle evaluated by an insurance adjuster. This adjuster will help you estimate the cost of repairs. If the photos and police report are not enough, it’s likely that you’ll have to get your vehicle inspected in-person, so keep that in mind.

Nyle Maxwell CDJR of Taylor is Here to Help You Get Back on the Road!

Ready to get up and running on College Station or Georgetown streets again? Contact the experts at our service center & auto body shop in Taylor today, and someone will be more than happy to help you with additional service tips to follow after an accident! From mechanical issues to major body work and more, your vehicle repairs after an accident are more likely to be done right the first time when you choose Nyle Maxwell CDJR of Taylor to assist you!