No matter how careful a driver you are, everyone has an accident, through their own fault, or through the fault of someone else, but the hard and ugly truth is that most people who drive consistently are likely to have a car crash.
First check to see if you’re ok; the other person? If all is well, stay calm, and speak to the other driver, exchange insurance information. If not, dial 911, immediately and ask for medical assistance!
Assuming that neither you nor the other driver is badly injured, here is what you need to do
Start off on the right foot
Stay calm; you have been through a traumatic experience, stay alert, and positive.
Get your story straight
Recall what happened, make a drawing, you have just gone through quite a traumatic experience, and it’s common to forget smaller details, smaller details that can get you off the hook! Take a picture on your cell phone; this is even better, as it can serve as evidence in the event of a legal battle.
Call the cops
Place a call to 911 immediately, exchanging insurance information can wait, and it should. Call 911, describe what’s happened, tell them no ones hurt, and ask them to send someone over, ask bystanders for the exact location if you’re not sure. Its best you offer to call the cops, it’s no secret that the one who comes clean first, seems less likely to be the cause of an accident. Don’t leave the scene, unless un-avoidable, until the cops do, check the police report the have drawn up, don’t take anything for granted.
Exchange insurance information
Speak to the other driver, don’t be rude, don’t accuse (even if it was their fault), this will just make the person hostile, and make things a lot more difficult for you. Note the information down, volunteer to give your information too.
Call your insurance company
It is best you intimate your insurance company, not like you can keep them in the dark anyway. Even if you, and the other driver have a no fault insurance, it doesn’t mean that your off the hook, or even he is for that matter. Sure, your insurance companies pay for your respective damages, but that’s not the end of it. Insurance companies normally access the scenario and call upon the other party’s insurance company for a settlement, claiming of course that their client was wronged. So always remember to play safe!
Damage control
Your car might be insured, but that doesn’t mean that you will receive a payout that is sufficient to cover all repairs. Depreciation is your number one enemy, and there isn’t too much you can do about it. The best way out is to control where you get the repairs done, your insurance company can suggest a workshop, but you need not get the work done there. Always have an estimate calculated by a mechanic you know, this will give you an honest ball park figure as to how much you would have to shell out.
Precautions
Always keep your insurance papers, including the form you need to fill out in the event of an accident, in your glove box. You never know when this will come in handy!
Study your policy in advance, know your coverage, no one has the time to read the policy document after a crash. Sure it’s lengthy, and monotonous, but it can save you a couple of thousand dollars.
