Even minor car accidents can be terrifying experiences. Your heart pounds, you start to sweat, and you immediately begin to dread the post-accident legal, medical, and insurance hassles you now face. To make the aftermath of an auto accident a little less stressful, we've put together this step-by-step guide on what to do after a car accident.
Remain at the scene and call the police. Without leaving the scene, get yourself to a safe place and call 9-1-1. Do not leave the scene until the police have arrived and left, and they have your statement about what occurred. If there are no injuries in your auto accident, you may have to file an accident report at the DMV or police station on your own.
Swap information. Get the names, telephone numbers, addresses, driver's license numbers, and insurance information of the other parties involved in the collision. It may also help you during the claims process to have the VINs (vehicle identification numbers) of all the vehicles involved. When speaking with the other parties, do not offer to pay for any damage or offer any apologies. Legally, apologies can be considered admissions of fault.
Call your insurer's claims number. As soon as you can after a car accident, begin the process of filing your auto insurance claim by calling your insurer's 24-hour claims line. You can initiate the process over the phone, and a representative should be in touch with you soon.
Read your policy. Find out exactly what your car insurance policy covers and how to proceed in the event of an accident by looking in the back of your policy under the "conditions" section. This section will tell you the requirements for the claims process.
See a doctor for any injuries. If you were injured in the accident, you of course should have gone to the emergency room immediately after the auto accident. However, if your injuries were not emergencies, see a doctor as soon as you can after the collision. Keep records of all of your medical appointments and costs.
Find alternate transportation. If you have rental reimbursement coverage, your insurer will provide you with a daily allowance during the claims process to rent another vehicle while yours is being repaired or replaced. Learn how much your insurer will pay per day for a rental car and how many days the car will be covered.
Meet with an adjuster. Your auto insurer will send someone out to evaluate your auto insurance claim and assess the damage to your vehicle. Some insurers may ask you to get an estimate from a body shop first, after which they will send an adjuster to corroborate the estimate. If the estimate the adjuster offers is not fair, consult the appraisal provision of your policy.
Be selective in the repair process. Choose a body shop you trust, not necessarily the cheapest one. Also demand that your insurer pay for original equipment manufacturer parts for your vehicle and not generic aftermarket parts.
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