The Correct Way To Report A Car Accident For Insurance
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All drivers get involved in some type of car accident at least once. Therefore It is very necessary to be acquainted with the basics of providing your information to the other driver so that they know how to later get in touch with you. Although, the accident is small, you must not simply drive away, else it might be called a ‘hit and run’. It might be possible that you knock an empty car but even then it is essential to exchange your information with the owner or driver of the car so that they ay contact you. In a serious accident, your first objective should be to ask someone to call at 911.
The first step, which most people forget, is to not admit fault. Even if the car accident was your fault it is not wise to admit it to the other car driver. If it is later found out that the accident wasn’t your fault, you may still be forced to pay for the damages because you said it was. Try to be calm and handle the situation in an orderly fashion so everyone involved can get back to what they were doing.
Swap the car insurance information with the other party/ parties immediately. Ensure that the names, contact numbers, and addresses are provided so you can contact each other later. This explains why it’s so essential to carry your insurance proof along with you in your vehicle. You might have to give the proof later if you don not have it with you at the time of accident.
If everyone is willing to wait you can call your claims representative to come and access the damage. Sometimes this isn’t possible, but you should call them as soon as you have a chance. Your claims representative will take pictures if you are still around, fill out your claims form, talk to all of the parties involved with the crash, and even talk to some of the people who saw the accident.
Take pictures of the damage and surrounding area before any of the cars are moved. With so many people having picture phones now-a-days, this is fairly easy. Take pictures of all the damage to all of the cars, and any other pictures that might help describe the scene.
After you have made a call to your claims representative, clicked pictures, and taken each other’s contact information, you may usually leave the spot. In most cases, a police officer arrives by this time to assist in clearing up the mess and getting your vehicles removed from spot by tow trucks. Sometimes when the crash is not so serious, tow trucks may not be required at all. Also it may take weeks or months to get your insurance money, so you may have to bear the initial repair charges yourself.
The check you get is settled on by the lowest quote for repair provided to the insurer. You may get the blue book price for your car, if your vehicle is totaled up. The blue book value is actually a set of prices that is determined by taking into account several factors like the age, model, and condition of the car. Any modifications made by you in the car will not be reimbursed for by the insurance companies.
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