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Do You Know What to Do After a Car Accident?

By: Jafree Gurner Click author's name for more of his/her articles

If you're reading this, you were probably in a fender bender not too long ago. Either a fender bender or a full blown car accident where your car rolls six times and you wake up 3 days later in an unfamiliar place. Either way, you probably wish you found this article before getting into that mess, but it's better late than never, right? While most things should be done right after the accident, there are a whole slew of things that have to be done days later. This article will explain the procedures you need to do after getting in a car accident; from dealing with the government to working with your insurance company.

The first thing you should do after getting into a car accident is look for damaged objects. Did you hit another car? Did you run into a tree? A lamp post? A building? pedestrian? Almost everything you run into with a car will get damaged, so take note of those things. If anything did get damaged, take pictures-lots and lots of pictures. It helps to carry a camera in your car for this exact purpose. Sometimes, the insurance company will ask if you have any proof to backup your claim, and this is where the pictures come in.

If you or your passengers are seriously injured it is best to not move. Wait for the authorities to arrive and assist you. Otherwise take your camera and exit your car. If there was another person involved make sure they are alright. If it is a serious accident and the other person is suffering from severe injuries call 911 right away. Never touch or help a person with severe injuries unless they are directly in harms way by staying where they are.

Thankfully most people involved in car accidents walk away free of injury. If both parties are not injured then quickly take pictures of the accident and move the cars to the side of the road if they are drivable.

After the accident, trade information with the other driver. Legally you're only required to exchange some basic information, but it's an excellent idea to get all the information the other person has, including their home address, telephone number(s), drivers license number, the make, model, and year of the car, the license plate number of the car, the VIN number of the car, and the other driver's insurance information. Your insurance company will ask for most of this information, and it will be helpful to have it handy when you start negotiating with them.

The next step is to notify your insurance company. Give them a call and tell them you need to open a claim. If they ask you to admit fault, don't. If anyone else asks you to admit fault, don't. Even if it was your fault. Don't short yourself anywhere. If you ran into another car, don't admit fault. Talk to your insurance company and they should give you some instruction on what to do next. Chances are you'll have to pay a deductible to get your car fixed. If your car was totaled, the deductible will be taken out of the check that your insurance company issues you.

After you give the insurance company your statement and any other information, they will send you a form. This form needs to be filled out and sent to the DMV. You have 10 days to fill out the form and mail it to the DMV. You can choose to take the form, but I have yet to make a DMV visit that didn't take less then an hour.

In conclusion, you must never admit fault. Take pictures of the accident, and make sure the other people involved are O.K. Talk to your insurance company, and fill out the accident report for the DMV. Please note that this was just a basic guide, and not a complete 'how to.' These are the steps I took when I got into an accident, and everything worked out fine.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Jaff Gurner loves Zippo lighter memorabilia, and is a self proclaimed cigar aficionado. If you're looking for a place to order zippo lighter products, feel free to visit www.tobacco-barn.com/s-85-zippo-lighter.aspx