Auto Insurance: 4 Things to Do After an Accident

Over the last year and a half people have been working from home and have become accustomed to not leaving the house. As we all imagined, the day has come where people are returning to the office and once again facing the dreaded commute. The transition has not been easy for everyone and just as suspected, accident rates have increased by 10% according to Forbes. Oftentimes when we are involved in an accident, it can be hard to remember all the proper steps while enduring stress. So what can you do to make sure you are prepared if an accident should occur?

1. Document

Being startled and shocked after an accident is completely normal, but make sure you don’t let those feelings get in the way of documenting what you can from the incident. The most common type of motor vehicle accident is a rear-end collision, according to the DMV. While the rear end collision or “fender bender” is the most common type of collision, it is still a traumatic and difficult situation to manage. The first thing to do when you are involved in one of these accidents is to pull over safely when you are able. Once you are safely pulled over, document what you can. Where are you? What time of day is it? Are you harmed? Now is the time to take photos of any damages and write down what you can remember from how the incident occurred. As time passes, even a week, memories of incidents like this will fade and these details will help so much.

2. Exchange Information

Having your information in a safe and secure place that is organized will help you handle incidents like a fender bender with ease. Rather than scrambling through your car or your bags, you will know that your license and auto insurance is in your wallet or in your glove compartment. A very important thing to mention is that regardless of who is at fault for the accident, both parties must exchange information. Taking photos of the other driver’s license and insurance will help when you go to make a claim with your insurance.

3. Report It?

You might be wondering if you need to report the accident to any authorities. That depends on the situation. If anyone was injured or there were any fatalities, report the collision at once. In addition, if there is more than $1000 in damage, you have a responsibility to complete the "Report of Traffic Incident Occurring in California (SR1)" within 10 days. You can find more details here.

4. Contact your Insurance

The last and possibly most crucial step in this process is reaching out to your auto insurance to make a claim. There are a few different types of claims that can be made. You may file a claim that states you were not at fault and are requesting the at fault party to be contacted by your insurance. This type of claim is the easiest and will be resolved quickly by both insurance companies. But say the at fault party does not have car insurance. You can check with your car insurance coverage to make sure that you have liability and non-insured coverage or “collision coverage”. The last type of collision coverage is where you were at fault for the collision. Make sure to contact your insurance to make sure you have coverage for the incident and take the necessary steps to fix both vehicles with your insurance coverage.

Accidents can happen at any time and most likely when you are least prepared to deal with the ramifications. So make the checklist, confirm your car insurance coverage and be a vigilant driver to hopefully avoid an accident. Drive safely! If you are looking for new auto insurance coverage or would like to change for a policy that better fits your needs, let Insuravita help. Click HERE to compare quotes today!