What Do I Do After A Car Accident?

 
|  365 Words  |  2 Min Read  |  J.Figgs  | 

Here is a question we hardly ask ourselves before we need to: “What do I do after a car accident?”

There are a lot of tips and advice that we can give after a car accident but today we wanted to emphasize when to talk to an insurance agent.

Are you obligated to talk to the other person’s insurance claims agent (i.e. Allstate, Geico, etc.) on the phone at the scene of a car accident?

No. If you are not in a position to talk to an agent, you are not obligated to do so.

For instance, it is common to feel shook up at the scene of an accident. You may still be processing exactly what happened. If you get on the phone with an insurance agent at the scene, they will try to see if you are at fault over their own insured. This conversation then goes on record.

The police will determine who was at fault for ticketing purposes. Insurance carriers will make up their own mind who was at fault. They may take into account the police report but will also take into account witness accounts, including yours. In other words, never discuss fault with the other person’s insurance. If they have you on record saying you are at fault, you may be held to that.

What should I do then?

1)     STOP immediately but do not obstruct traffic.

2)     ASSIST injured. Have someone call the police.

3)     SECURE names, phone numbers, addresses of other drivers, witnesses, and injured persons.

4)     SECURE make, model, license numbers of all cars involved.

5)     TAKE photos of the accident showing position of cars and other details.*

6)     DON’T hastily accept claim settlements at the scene of the accident. Never discuss fault at the scene of the accident.

7)     REMAIN calm, courteous and consistent in your version of the accident. Never discuss fault, only relay facts.

8)     NOTIFY your insurance agent as soon as possible.

*If you do not have a smart phone on you, make a rough drawing instead.

Here is an Accident Facts Reference Form for you to keep in your glove box.

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