7 Important Things to Do After a Minor Car Crash
According to a study by Car Insurance, you will likely crash your car at least once in every 17 years. A car crash is something you’d never like to experience. Everyone is always cautious and committed to maintaining safety on the road.
However, on the misfortune, something might happen to cause a minor car crash. Minor accidents are common due to specific unfortunate incidences. Driveways, parking lots, and slow-moving collisions can happen anytime.
Fender benders usually happen daily, and you can be on the receiving end. Even, a minor car crash can be stressful to handle. Here is a checklist of the things to do after a minor accident. Read on!
1. Pull Over and Call the Police
If possible, you can get out of the traffic line and turn on your hazard lights. Pulling out gives way for traffic to flow without creating a scene. Unless you crashed on another car, you should get out of the road.
Call the police as soon as possible. If there is a chance that your car is damaged or you are injured, it’s essential to call the police. Calling 911 is necessary because it brings order at the scene of the crash.
As a driver, involving the police is a way of assuring personal health and safety. You can ram into rude motorists which in turn could lead to a chaotic situation.
Additionally, a police report about the crash is vital in many ways. In case someone else tries to avert the course of justice, the police report can act as evidence in a suit. The police report should be done on the site of the crash for maximum accuracy.
2. Cascade of Injury
When a minor crash occurs, you should access immediate medical checkup. Although you might seem unhurt, there is a probability that something will go wrong afterwards. Injuries might not appear on the scene of the accident.
After a minor accident, you will likely experience some pain or discomfort after a few hours. In some rear cases, car accident injuries might be felt even after some days. With adrenaline rushing and blood pumping fast, it’s possible not to have any symptoms.
Regardless of how good you feel, always seek medical attention. Pursuing medical checkup immediately after the accident can help you when filing insurance claims. You can include the medical report in the insurance claim.
If you suffer serious health problems, involve a personal injury attorney for assistance.
3. List Information about the Fender Bender
What led to the occurrence of the crash? What time did the accident occur? You need to collect the right information regarding the crash.
Information is essential in various ways. Firstly, if you don’t own the car, explaining the crash to your friend, employer, or hire service can be difficult. Below is a list of info that you should collect regarding the accident;
- The time and date of the accident
- Address of the accident site
- The road or driveway you were traveling on
- Description of the other party (car, property, etc.)
- What happened to lead to a crash?
- Witnesses and their contact information
- The driving conditions (visibility, weather, etc.)
- The details of officers who inspected the crash
Collecting these details can get you off the hook. The details of the accidents are vital when seeking insurance claim or in the event of a lawsuit. Get names, phone numbers, vehicle plate numbers, type of car, and addresses of the involved parties.
4. Contact Your Insurance Provider
In case of an accident, you should never admit liability. The purpose of the car insurance is to cater for any obligation on your car. Contact your insurance agent and talk about the fender bender.
You need to provide facts to the insurance provider without handling anything else. In the event of a car crash, avoid settling the damage on your own.
If the other party tries to convince you to accept fault or handle the damages without insurance, reject it. It might be a well-crafted trap by the other party to get you into trouble. Stick to facts and details to benefit from the claims.
5. Take Photos of the Accident
Visual records are vital after a fender bender. You can use your mobile phone to gather the necessary info about the accident. You can take photos of the property damage, car position, etc.
If your insurance provider allows the submission of claims through mobile apps, you can include the photos. You can use the taken pictures to prove your evidence. If the other party was at fault, include the images as part of your claim.
6. Stay Calm and Do Not Panic
The crash has already happened, and you don’t need not panic. Stay composed and follow the necessary processes. You should not be moved by the crowds or intimidated by the other parties.
You should relax, wait for the police and the insurance. After the due process of compiling details and information, you can look for some chilling spots to relax. Relaxing enables you to relieve any stress.
7. Do Not Take Chances
In case a car crash happens, avoid taking situations lightly. Even a minor crash might lead to huge, expensive damage on your car. Some crashes that seem cosmetic can be immense.
Let someone assess all the damages on your car so at to get accurate info. You can contact your mechanic to evaluate your car after the crash. Make sure you follow the due procedure without intimidation or pressure from anyone.
Do not leave the scene of the crash without involving the authorities. It’s possible to face legal proceedings if you leave the scene of accidents too soon. Be sure to find a car accident lawyer to protect and defend your rights.
Minor Car Crash – The Bottom Line
A minor car crash might not be what it looks like. The face value of an accident can be deceitful. You are required to take all possible actions to avoid future problems.
If you experience a minor car crash, involve a car accident attorney to help you in processing the accident claims. In case you are at fault of the accident, you can seek legal help to avoid committing blunders.
For more information, check out this post on what not to do in a car accident.