It cannot be argued that being involved in a car accident is an extremely frightening and traumatic experience. It will probably leave you feeling rattled, and if you are not too seriously injured, you will be expected to take some steps yourself on the scene to ensure your car insurance will pay out.
This is to say if you have car insurance in the first place. When you find yourself involved in a car accident you will be extremely glad you do have car insurance! The cost of even a minor accident can be ridiculously high, and you will find that even a few minor scratches can absorb all your savings. If the accident was your own fault, you are going to have to cover the cost of the repair of your vehicle, as well as the damage inflicted on the other person’s car! It is clear – it would be quite unwise to drive without car insurance.
So let’s assume you are one of the clever ones who do have car insurance. Car accidents are normally iffy areas, and there is always someone who does not want to accept responsibility. In order to get a successful payout from insurance you will need to cover all your angles on the accident scene. So this is what you do:
First of all, you need to stop your car if it is still moving. The health and safety of yourself and your passengers is the most important thing, so you need to check that nobody has been hurt. It is normally a good idea to call an ambulance, if only to ensure that everyone really is alright.
The next step is to ensure that your vehicle is not in the way of oncoming traffic, or at danger of causing a second accident. If you are able to, drive your vehicle onto the side shoulder of the road. If you are not able to do so, set up your hazard signs and flares all around the accident scene to warn other traveling vehicles of the upcoming road obstruction.
Phone the nearest police station and inform them of the collision. If any police officers show up on the scene, be sure to get their badge numbers and names. Obtain the names and contact numbers of any willing witnesses, and naturally it is imperative that you get the name, contact details, driver’s license numbers and insurance details of the other people involved in the car accident. The next important thing is to phone your car insurance company. They may often send a representative onto the scene to capture the necessary details. The insurance company will also inform you of which tow truck company to use and what other necessary steps to take.
It is highly advisable that you draw an image of the accident whilst it is still new in your mind. Try to capture the direction you were traveling up to the way that each car landed. It can be a stressful time, but having all the information you need will make the process of repairing your car much easier.
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