Action Plan to handle Accidents:
1. Keep an urgent situation Kit within your Glove Compartment. If there are actually serious injuries, drivers should carry a mobile phone, as well as pen and paper for taking notes, a disposable camera to take photos of your vehicles on the scene, along with a card with information about medical allergies or conditions that may require special attention. Also, keep a list of contact numbers for law enforcement agencies handy. A set of cones, warning triangles or emergency flares should be stored in the trunk.
2. Keep Safety First. Drivers linked to minor accidents with no serious injuries should move cars to the side in the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leaving cars parked in the center of the road or busy intersection can result in additional injuries and accidents. If a car cannot be drivers, passengers and moved should remain in the cars with seatbelts fastened for everyone’s safety until help arrives. If possible, ensure that you turn on hazard lights and set up out cones, flares or warning triangles.
3. Exchange Information. Once the accident, exchange the following information: , phone number, insurance carrier, policy number, driver license license and number plate number for the driver and the owner of each vehicle.address and name If the driver’s name differs from the name of the insured, establish just what the relationship is and destroy the address and name for each and every individual. Also create a written description of each car, including year, model, color and make – and also the exact location of the collision and how it happened. Finally, be polite but don’t tell other drivers or even the police how the accident was your fault, even if you think it was.
4. Document and Photograph the Accident. Use your camera to document the damage to all of the vehicles. Keep in mind that you want your photos to show the entire context from the accident so that you can make your case to a claims adjuster. If there were witnesses, try to have their contact information; they may be able to assist you to if the other drivers dispute your version of what happened.
5. File A Crash Report. Although law enforcement officers in many locations may not react to accidents unless there are injuries, drivers should file a state vehicle accident report, which is available at police stations and often about the Department of Motor Vehicles Web site like a downloadable file. A police report often helps insurance carriers speed up the claims process.
6. Determine What Your Insurance Covers. If you know the facts of your coverage, the whole insurance process will likely be easier after the accident. For example, don’t hold back until after a car accident to find out that the policy doesn’t automatically cover costs for towing or perhaps a replacement rental car. Should it be stolen, generally, for only a dollar or two extra each month, you can include coverage for rental car reimbursement, which offers a rental car for little or no money while your automobile is in the mechanic shop or. Look at your policy for specifics.
You should maintain the following within your glove compartment, just in case an accident occurs:
The name of your respective insurance company
Your policy number
Your insurance agent’s phone number
The name and number of your local towing company
Print our accident checklist whilst keeping it within your car. It will give you every one of the steps you should follow after an accident has occurred. This helps you and your insurance broker tremendously in resolving potential issues.
Notify your insurance agent as soon as possible. Provide all the information you gathered on the scene and make arrangements for repair.