No one ever gets in their car expecting to end the trip in an accident. However, things happen, and you might end up in an accident that wasn’t at all your fault. If that’s the case, it’s important that you understand what you must do after the accident occurs. Skipping just one step can cause headaches for you days later (in some cases literally). From the moments after the accident to finding a collision repair shop to fix your car, here are the steps you need to take after getting into a car accident.
Call the Authorities
After every accident, no matter how small it seems, one of your first steps needs to be calling the authorities. Many injuries are obscured by the rush of adrenaline that happens after a car accident. This means, even if you think you’re uninjured, you should be checked out by a professional soon after the accident. They can spot injuries that you don’t feel in the moment.
The other main reason to call the authorities is to make sure you have an unbiased third party at the scene of the accident to record what happened. Emotions are high, and all parties involved don’t have a clear, objective view of what has occurred. The police officer will talk to everyone involved in the accident as well as any witnesses and use that to determine what happened. If there are any cameras around, those will also be used by the officer in compiling the information.
Gather All the Information You Can
While the police officer is collecting information to file an official report, you also need to collect certain information for your records. This includes:
- Name, license, and contact information from the other driver(s)
- Insurance policy information from the other driver(s)
- License plates
- Pictures of the scene
- Names and contact information of any witnesses
- A copy of the official report (or a way to receive a copy)
Most of this information will be requested by the insurance company when you file your claim, so it’s important to keep all of it in the same place for easy access. If you end up seeking medical attention, keep records from that visit as well to pass along. It’s better to have collected a lot of evidence and not need it later than to not have enough and have issues with your insurance claim.
Report the Accident to Your Insurance
Once you get home from the accident site safely, your next order of business is to file a claim with your insurance provider. This needs to be done whether you were at fault for the accident or not. Many policies have clauses that require you to report all accidents in a certain amount of time or risk being dropped by your provider. Additionally, the insurance claim process can often take a while, so the sooner you start the process, the better off you’ll be.
After you file a claim, you’ll be given information regarding the name of your insurance adjuster, then contact information, and often a case number for your claim. Keep a record of all of this information alongside the information you gathered earlier for easy reference.
Find an Auto Body Shop
Whether the damage is a small scrape to your paint or your car is now missing a front bumper, you’ll need to take your car to an auto body or collision repair shop to get it fixed. These shops are different from your local mechanic shop. Mechanics handle the inner workings of your car (engine, brakes, transmission, etc.), while the auto body shop repairs the exterior of your vehicle. After an accident, they’re the ones you need to talk to in order to get your car looking brand new again.
In some cases, your insurance adjuster will provide you with a list of auto body shops that you can choose from. The insurance companies tend to like working with shops they’ve worked with before, but it’s important to know that you can take it to a shop not on the list as well. Do your research and determine which auto body shop is the best fit for your needs.
