Most Important Things to do in the Event of an Auto Accident
Accidents happen everyday, but even with their frequency, it is surprising the number of people who do not handle these situations correctly and end up with either a real headache, or a bill in their hand for something that was not even their fault. Here are the most important steps you should follow in the event of any accident:
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If everybody is okay, call the police and then move your vehicles off to the side where they will not promote yet another accident. They used to tell you that you shouldn’t move the vehicles, as it disturbs the evidence of who is at fault. But when you are holding up traffic and putting other cars at risk, it is best to take a couple photos of the scene with your cell phone, take any names and phone numbers of witnesses, and then move to a safe area to wait for the police.
Note: In the even of a private parking lot, the police will most likely not come out, so it will be up to you to follow the remaining steps accordingly.
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Exchange information with the other drivers. Even if the police come out to take a report, it is still going to be your responsibility to call your insurance and give them the information of the accident. You will need full names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance companies, policy numbers, and license plate. If they refuse any of this information, get as much as you can from them (including a description of their vehicle) so that you can track them down if need be.
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Never admit guilt to an accident. You don’t want to be a jerk about it, but you don’t want to hang yourself too quickly either.
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File an accident report even if it is not your local police policy is not to respond to a minor accident. This will help document the incidence to help guide your insurance company along the right path. You may even need to file a complaint or lawsuit if a construction zone or city project was the cause of your accident, such as in the case of unmarked road construction or road damage, etc. Without this, your insurance will assume you were at fault and black ball your name for the nest 3 to 5 years. It’s a dog eat dog world, so always cover all your tracks to keep you from getting bit too hard.
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Finally, always know your policy inside and out. This will save you so much heartache if you know ahead what to expect out of your insurance company. It is one thing to be angry at your agent for not taking care of everything efficiently, but it is a whole other subject if your policy clearly states they will not cover it. You wouldn’t walk into a bear cave without a flashlight, and nor should you put your keys in the ignition until you know what aspects of an accident you are receiving coverage for.
