After a car accident, it can be very difficult to figure out what you should do next. Not only will you be shaken up and stressed out, but you also might not know who the appropriate parties are to contact and whether or not to get the police involved. Here is a simple list that you can keep in your wallet to give you some guidance if this should happen to you.
Turn your car off: Do not leave your car running while you get out to inspect the damage. Instead, put your car in park and turn it off—and don’t forget to grab your keys from the ignition.
Get out of the car to inspect the damage: Make sure that you are in a safe place out of the way of oncoming traffic. Then, get out of the car and take a look at the damage that was done to both your car and the other car (or cars) involved.
Call the police: If the damage is very small, then you may not want the police involved. But to be safe and avoid any future legal problems, having a police report and witness statements can work in your favor.
Exchange information with the other driver: Get the name, address and phone number of the other driver or drivers involved. Also make sure that you take down their insurance information, license plate number, make and model and write down a description of the cars and the incident as well as the damage.
Get witness information: If there were any witnesses, make sure to get their names and contact information.
Call your insurance company: Some insurance companies have claims adjusters who ride out to accidents. Call your insurance company to find out if this is also their process—unless you decide that the damage is minor enough that you don’t need to involve your insurance company.
Take pictures: If you have a camera on your cell phone or a disposable camera in your glove compartment, make sure to take some pictures of both cars and the roadway, and anything else that might have factored in to the cause of the accident.
No matter what you decide to do in terms of police or insurance company involvement after your accident, make sure you document all the information that you can after the event and that you keep yourself safe while exploring the damage and talking to the other driver.
ABC Insurance Services is here to protect you through the good times and the bad. Call us today at (713) 782-2886 to get your free Houston auto insurance quote today!