Auto accidents are frankly miserable, but they are a fact of life. In the heat of the moment, it is important to keep calm and take care of the issues at hand. This list will help you know the steps to take if you are involved in an accident.
What to do if you are in an auto accident:
- Stop Immediately - Never leave the scene of an accident.
- Protect Yourself - If the accident is in a high traffic area move yourself and/or your vehicle to safety. Put out traffic flares if you have them.
- Police - Call the local police so they can file a police report. This report is super important, as it is strong evidence to an insurance company as to whether they should pay out a claim!
- Information - Exchange information with the other parties involved, especially insurance policy information. Simply snap a photo of their auto insurance ID card.
- Pictures - Take pictures of the scene. Damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle. Just make sure not to interfere with the the police investigation or put yourself in harms way.
- Medical - If you or any passenger(s) were injured during the accident, seek medical attention immediately.
- Your Fault - Never admit you were at fault to the other driver or police officer. However, if you know you were at fault, you will call your own insurance agent/company.
- Not Your Fault - If you are NOT at fault, you will want to call the other party’s insurance company. You will file a claim with their insurance, using the other party’s policy information.
- Communicate - Work with the claims adjuster to get everything back to normal. They will be the go-to decision maker on how the claim will be settled. If you feel the claim is not being handled appropriately, give us a call. We're here to guide you through the process.
- Safety - Return to the roads and stay safe. Remember, no distracted driving.
If you file a claim with your insurance company for a wreck in which you were not guilty of causing, this still gives reason for your rates to be negatively impacted. Always file with the company of the responsible driver. If the responsible driver is without insurance, you will be able to file this on your own insurance as long as you have uninsured motorist coverage.