Unfortunately, no matter how careful of a driver you are, you may still be an accident. It may involve only you or someone else. Either way, here are a few things you should do after an accident.

Check for injuries and call the police

Once the car has stopped, check to see if you are injured. You might not notice it at first because of the shock and surge of adrenaline in your system. Look to see if you are bleeding. Run your hands over you face, head and body to see if there is any broken glass. If possible, move your car if it is in the path of traffic, and remove yourself from further harm. Call the police right away and let them know what happened and if you need an ambulance too.

Stay calm and collect information

Try to remain calm before you exit your vehicle by taking a deep breath. Check on the other driver if there is one and exchange information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and driver’s license numbers. You should also collect and provide the following:

• Insurance company’s name and contact information
• Insurance policy number
• License plate number
• Make and model of the vehicle

Don’t apologize or admit fault

You’ll probably want to say you are sorry even if it wasn’t your fault. Don’t do this. You could be held liable if that information is passed along to the police or insurance company. Better yet, just say nothing about the specifics of the accident when talking to the other driver.

 Call your insurance company

Give your insurance agent the information they need to process the claim. Find out how long the process will take and when you can get your car checked. Have your car towed to an auto body shop and get an estimate for the work to provide to your insurance. 

If you need repairs to your car or an estimate for your insurance company, contact us at Ron’s Complete Auto Body.