What to Do After a Minor Car Accident
Minor car accidents account for a large percentage of losses and damages, according to insurance companies. As they are very common and sometimes unavoidable, you may find yourself in the stresses of a fender bender from time to time. Fortunately, they don’t usually involve injuries, however, it can be a complicated and expensive ordeal when dealing with the other driver, the police and insurance companies. Related mishaps are avoidable and the process can run smoothly if you are careful to follow the necessary requirements in the case of a minor accident. Below are some steps in which you should take to ensure an effective resolution:
- Safety first
Immediately after the accident takes place you may feel a range of emotions. Before reacting, you should calm yourself and gain composure. Once you are calm, check to make sure everyone in both vehicles are safe. If everyone is safe, then either move both cars out of the road, turn hazard lights on or insert other safety measures to caution other drivers.
- Speak with the Other Driver
Once everyone is safe, it’s important to speak with the other driver before taking any actions. In a calm manner, you should, exchange contact and insurance information with them.
Ask if they would be willing to give a witness account. A written or verbal statements can help tremendously when speaking with the police and the insurance companies.
- Contact the Police
Even in minor accidents, it is crucial to contact the police as soon as you can to ensure the most accurate accounts of what happened. A police report may be required in an insurance claim, and may also benefit you if the other driver is at fault.
- Document the Accident
Proper documentation of an accident is important for the police report, any insurance claim and for protecting yourself in case of any mishaps of false claims. As soon as you can, take pictures with your phone of:
- The damage on both cars from multiple angles
- Both license plates
- The scene of the accident. You should include any skid marks, damaged property or other evidence of the accident.
- Both driver’s insurance information
- Call Your Insurance Provider
Regardless of who is at fault in the accident, you should always report the accident to your insurance company. They will need to begin the investigation process, and may even send an adjuster to assess the damages and determine which driver is at fault.
At no point is it necessary to admit fault in the accident to anyone at the scene, the police or the insurance companies. It is the responsibility of the police and the insurance companies to investigate and determine liability in the accident.
- Seek Medical Attention
Additionally, you should seek medical attention regardless of whether you incurred any obvious injuries or not. In the case that you are injured, if you run into issues collection compensation for damages or the other driver is uncooperative, you should contact a skilled attorney who can help you find an effective resolution.