Preparing for and What to Do in an Accident
Road conditions this time of year can be extremely hazardous. The rainy season has begun, and with rain obstructing your visibility, it can make driving increasingly dangerous. It is also conducive weather for hydroplaning. Auto accidents happen frequently during this season, and it’s important to be prepared. We’ve compiled a list of what you can do to prepare yourself for an accident, as well as what to do if you do find yourself in this unfortunate situation.
Before an Accident
Keep certain items on you when you go out on the road in your vehicle. You’ll of course want to have your driver’s license and proof of insurance on hand. This is a no brainer. But, it would also be helpful to keep a pen and paper and a mobile phone with you. This way, you can take down pertinent information if need be, take photos of the accident and of course call for help. This will make the process much easier on you. Also, we recommend keeping a set of cones, emergency flares or warning triangles in the trunk to alert traffic. Any one of these items will do. However, a combination of flares and cones/triangles is even better.
After an Accident
In the event of an accident, it’s important to stay as calm as possible. The adrenaline from the crash can prevent you from thinking clearly. Take a deep breath and look at your surroundings. Assess all potential dangers and make sure that you and others around you are safe from further harm.
Call 911 immediately if someone is injured. You may also need to call the police if extensive damage has been done to your vehicles. You will want to get out of the road as soon as possible. If you were in a minor accident and can move your vehicles, absolutely do so. If you cannot move your vehicles, put on your hazards and set up your system of cones, warning triangles or flares to alert traffic. You want to do anything you can to prevent further pileups. If the accident occurs at nightfall, be especially aware that other drivers may not see you—in or out of your car. Sometimes, staying in your car can be more dangerous than not. Again, try to assess your environment and potential dangers as best you can given the circumstances.
When approaching the other party/parties involved, be sure to watch what you say. Avoid phrases like “it was my fault.” Again, with adrenaline pumping, there’s no way you can take full stock of the situation. It’s best to just exchange information at this time. You’ll want to get the following insurance information from the other parties involved:
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Make, model and year of the vehicle
- Insurance Carrier
- Insurance Policy Number
If possible, getting a few photos of the damage would be helpful. Make sure also to get the location of the accident and photos of people involved with their permission. If you needed to call the police, also get the name, badge number, phone number and police report number from the officer. You can also ask for a copy of the police report for your records.
As soon as the dust has settled, call your insurance provider. Remember, you have the choice of who works on your vehicle. Car Struction will be happy to give you a free repair estimate and work with your insurance company to get you back on the road. You can even email any one of our estimators:
Matthew Winslow: matt@carstruction.com
Nathan Turton: nathan@carstruction.com
Ray Korchak: ray@carstruction.com