Following an accident, it is important to know the proper car accident car insurance procedures. By taking the time to understand and follow such procedures, you can feel confident that you will receive the settlement you deserve.
Immediately following an accident, you should reduce the risk of further loss by taking these three steps: contact the police, contact your insurance company, and follow any instructions given by your insurer. By taking these steps, you will facilitate the claims process and ensure you get the proper compensation.
No matter what happens you want to make sure that you have adequate car insurance coverage in place to pay for any damages in an accident. To compare rate quotes online from many top car insurance companies side by side just enter your zip code to start with your free car insurance comparison!
First Things and Safety First
Immediately following a car accident the first thing you must do is to make sure that everyone is safe. Call for help if necessary to get injured people out of the car, unless they are mobile and staying in the vehicle is riskier than getting out of it. If there is a danger of fire or explosion, get everyone as far away from the vehicle as possible and turn off the vehicle. If the accident is less serious and the vehicle can be safely moved, take pictures from different angles and get it out of the travel lanes of the road. This will reduce the risk of further accidents, damage and injuries. This is a part of your obligation to the insurance company.
Contact the Police
You will want to contact the police following the car accident. Most people will call 911 following a car crash. If there are injuries, this is definitely the right course of action. If there are no injuries you may simply call the local police department if you have the number. If not, you can use 911 to get police response. By having a police officer come to the scene of the accident, documentation of the accident is typically more accurate and reliable. He or she will interview witnesses, all parties involved in the accident and will often determine fault and give tickets if necessary to the party at fault. This makes insurance claims much more expedient.
You also need to collect information on the other parties involved in the accident. Get name, address, phone number, insurance provider, insurance policy number, contact information for the insurer, license plate number and make and model of the vehicle. If there are witnesses you will want to get their contact information too.
Contact the Insurance Company
The next thing to do following a car accident is to contact your insurance company and report the accident. You will be given a claims number and an adjustor will be assigned to your claim. He or she will investigate the details of the accident and provide you with information on how to proceed.
Even before having your vehicle towed or getting a rental car to use, it is important to contact your insurer. You may have coverage that covers both situations and it may prove to be more advantageous to use preferred providers for such services than to choose others.
Things to be Wary of Following a Car Accident
Car accident settlements can be tricky situations. There are things that can happen which may open you up to liability or cause you to jeopardize any claim you might have. Therefore it is important to know what you should be wary of following a car accident.
Even when accidents seem relatively minor and things appear to be clear cut, it may not always be the case. If you and another driver have a fender bender, take great care when agreeing to settle out of pocket. By agreeing to give the other party money for damages in an accident, you are essentially admitting fault. This person may come back with a more elaborate claim later, especially for bodily injury claims.
You should also avoid talking with the insurance company representing the other party in a car accident. Your insurer should take care of all dealings with the other party, including their insurer. You may inadvertently open yourself up to liability in something you say to them. By letting your insurance company take care of the details of the accident, you will save yourself a lot of time and stress and will reduce the risk of putting your claim in jeopardy.
If you are in the market for good quality car insurance coverage, take the time to shop around and find out how different companies treat their clients when they are involved in car accidents. How a company deals with claims is one of the most important factors when it comes to selecting an insurer.
Get started today on your search, by first getting online quotes from multiple insurers serving your area, through the use of our free online car insurance quote tool. Enter your zip to start!
