There are some precautions you may want to take before you get into a car accident to help ensure everyone is safe, obey the rules and get the insurance claim process underway.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the following measures will help direct you through crucial decisionsthat you need to make in the case of a car accident, if you wereat fault for the accident or not.
Step 1: Check yourself for injuries
Call 911 if you are injured, or ask someone else to do so. If you are critically injured, then try not to move and wait for medical personnel.
Step 2: Check your passengers on the well-being
Check the other passengers in your car if you’re not too injured to drive around. If someone is injured, get emergency services on the phone, or ask a bystander to call for assistance.
Step 3: Safety to out
If you can, step along the side of the road or a sidewalk. When your car is safe to drive, and if it is creating a hazard, pull it to the side of the lane. Otherwise, just leave it where it is and get to safety.
Step 4: Call 911 or 1-(877)-275-5273(non emergency number for police)
If an incident is called a minor or a major collision, it is necessary to call the police — and it’s legally required in some states. The officers who respond must fill out an incident report and record the scene. If the police cannot come to the scene of the incident, according to the III, you should go to the nearest police station and fill up a report yourself. When you apply to your insurer for a claim, they can ask for a copy of the police report to help with the claims process.
Step 5: Wait for help
Switch off your engine, switch on your warning lights and use your emergency car kit’s road flares to warn other vehicles of slowing down.
Step 6: Knowledge
Exchange contact and insurance details with the other driver after making sure you and any passengers get uninjured. According to the III, this is where the most relevant drivers will share details after an accident:
1. Name and contact details
2. Insurance company and policy number
3. Driver’s license and license plate number
4. Vehicle make, colour and model
5. Accident location
They advise you stop talking fault with the other driver as you go over the truth. When filing an insurance claim, the adjuster reviewing the claim will decide who is at fault based on inspection of the damaged vehicles / property, evidence given by you and the other parties involved in the accident, and any relevant documentation; just like incident accounts or scene photos.
Step 7: Document the property
The III suggests taking the following measures to help protect you:
1. Do the officers identify?
When the police arrive, all responding officers are given the name and badge number.
2. Receive a copy
Ask the present police officers where you can get a copy of the investigation of the incident. When you file a car insurance claim, your insurer can request a copy of the report.
3. Take videos
Trace the incident clearly by taking photos from various angles of your vehicle and showing the damage done to both vehicles. Sometimes, taking pictures of the other car’s license plate may be a smart idea. During the appeals process, you may be able to exchange pictures with your insurer to help support your claim.
4. Take names
Write the names and addresses of all interested parties and any passengers in the other car.
5. Converse with witnesses
If there were any witnesses to the crash, even take their names and contact details down.
You should keep this accident report page in your car to help keep all of the paperwork in order.
Step 8: Notify insurer and open the claims
You may want to call your insurance company while on stage. They will therefore tell you exactly what they need to process your claim and what to expect during the claims process.
Only the most experienced driver can be left frazzled by an accident but taking these measures will help shield you from needless concerns. By this way, you can focus on negotiating with the insurance provider to get your car fixed as quickly as possible.
Contact our attorney:
Our firm has expertise in representing clients in many types of vehicle accident situations. We have excellent professional experience in the field of Auto Accident Attorney Pasadena, Binder & Associates is regarded as one of the best in the sector by several professional organisations.
The best reason to recruit Personal Injury Attorney Pasadena, however, is that we are happy to be going the extra mile for customers. At Binder & Associates we realize that every client is someone who needs support, so we give special focus to helping them get back on track with their lives. It makes a quantifiable difference in the outcomes we’re achieving for our customers and an even greater difference in the satisfaction our customers get from working with our company. That’s why so many customers are grateful for the results they get from Binder & Associates, and remain friends of our business.
