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What to Do After a Car Accident
How to Appropriately Respond to a Car Accident
To ensure the safety of yourself and others. If you are involved in an accident, it is important to stay calm and assess the situation. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Even if there are no obvious injuries, it is important to seek medical attention to be checked out for any hidden injuries.
Ensure Safety First:
The immediate priority after an accident is safety. If possible, move your vehicle to a safe location, turn on hazard lights, and check for injuries among yourself, passengers, and others involved. Call 911 for medical assistance if necessary.
Notify Law Enforcement:
Contact law enforcement as soon as possible. It's crucial to report the accident to the police as they will create an official accident report, which can be valuable for insurance claims and legal purposes later on.
Exchange Information:
Exchange contact and insurance information with the other parties involved in the accident. Gather names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance details. It would be ideal to be polite and cooperative during this process. Also, make sure to get information from any witnesses as well.
Document the Accident:
Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, license plates, road conditions, and traffic signs. This visual evidence can be essential for insurance claims. Write down details such as where the accident took place, what the weather was like, etc.
Seek Medical Attention:
Even if you don't feel injured immediately, it's advisable to seek medical attention. Some injuries may not show symptoms right away, and a medical evaluation can help in documenting any injuries related to the accident.
Notify Your Insurance Company:
Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide them with all the necessary details, including the other driver's information and the accident report number.
Avoid Placing Fault:
While it's essential to cooperate with the authorities and share information, avoid admitting fault or making accusations towards anyone involved. Fault determination is often handled by the insurance companies and legal processes.
Contact an Attorney:
If the accident involves significant injuries or complex liability issues, consider consulting an attorney experienced in personal injury cases. They can provide guidance on your legal rights and potential claims.
Keep Records:
Maintain detailed records of all accident-related expenses, such as medical bills, repair costs, and any missed workdays due to injuries. This documentation will be crucial for insurance claims and potential lawsuits.
Follow Up with Insurance:
Stay in communication with your insurance company throughout the claims process. Cooperate with their investigations, provide requested documents promptly, and keep track of claim progress.
Additional Notes:
When you're using a body shop to get repairs to your vehicle, be aware that the insurance company can recommend a shop, but you are under no legal obligation to use its services. You have the legal right to choose the shop to do your repairs.
Also be aware that insurance companies sometimes try to dictate what type of parts are used in a vehicle's repair. They might insist that a shop not use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, as they are more expensive.
Testimonials
Taylor Phelps , 03/10/2021
Our Buick Enclave all of a sudden would not start, we were able to get it started luckily, we dropped it off with them on a whim, they diagnosed the issue for us in a great amount of time, A++. Then the replacement of diagnosed part ( Starter ) was also done quick, we had minimal down time with our vehicle, this is also our primary family vehicle as we are a family of six and our other car is a small Ford Focus, lol. But overall great service and time, would recommend, and I have recommended. Oh! Let's not forget price. The cost of diagnostic and parts and labor, was definitely under expected price. I can usually do most maintenance on my vehicles, however electrical systems are the hardest to diagnose and I did think it was the starter, but didn't want to chase gremlins, and with proximity to the transmission and lack of equipment to lift vehicle, this would have been a headache for me, and was definitely worth the price. I won't give the price. You ask why? Well, you cannot compare, diagnostic time, work time, labor intensity all changes with each vehicle, which does include the same model and year. Our vehicle had no code, yours could, sometimes even with codes, the problem seen may not really be the problem, there could be ten things causing one thing to fail when it's actually fine. So, bottom line, if you have the time and money, sure, do it yourself. However if your like most people (like me) the benefit of time and accuracy definitely make the service here worth more than I paid. I may be returning for front suspension work, I could do it, but I'd rather spend my one day off with family. Also my history with vehicles is definitely not novice, I've worked on my father's drag car, I've done most maintenance on my own vehicles and have done oil, brakes, alternator, rebuilt carbs on older cars, replaced crankshaft bearings, harmonic balance. Rebuilt the top end of my 83 AMC eagle station wagon, bored my father's 82 power ram 50, replaced most of chassis on 67 cougar (frame has rust now -_-, ) so I'm no slump when it comes to mechanics, I just value family time!