How To Handle A Car Accident
Posted on June 7th, 2010
If you drive frequently chances are pretty good that you will be in an auto accident at some point. Hopefully, you never get into one but you should be prepared in case it does happen. If a collision does occur then you will probably file an insurance claim, whether it be with your insurance carrier or the other party. Filing a claim can be headache free if you are thorough. Here are some obvious but important tips to handling an auto accident and insurance claim.
Just to be safe you should call 911 to have the police come out as well as an ambulance in case anyone is injured. The police will need to come out so that they give you an accident report. You will need to provide this to your insurance company. Also, get the contact information for everyone involved in the accident. This includes the other party, witnesses as well as the police officer writing the accident report.
The second step is to contact your insurance company. It is best to do this right away while the accident is fresh on your mind. If possible, have a field adjuster come to the accident as well so they can document information about the accident, who was involved, who was at fault and the extent of the damage.
Take some photos of the accident scene, property damage and any other necessary information if possible. Most cell phones take photos now so use to take your photos. If you have a camera those pictures are even better. It is better to have them and not need them then need them and not have them. These photos could come in handy if a dispute arises later.
Immediately after the accident write down or use your cell phone to make a record of all of the events of the accident. Write down even the minor details such as the weather, where you are, visibility, travel speed and anything else that might be pertinent. Suppose you have a head injury and later on lose your memory of the crash. Again, you may not need this information but it is better to have it in case you do.
If you see the potential for legal action make sure you hire a skilled, experienced and wise attorney. Also, don’t sign anything that releases any rights that you may have. An insurance company might request you to sign some documents. Read them carefully and have your attorney read them. You may get involved with an accident where there are no injuries and no disputes so an attorney may not be necessary. However, when money is on the line and the possibility of lawsuits, medical injuries or other liability then hiring an attorney is a good idea.
If you drive a car then you stand the chance of getting into a car accident. Following these common sense tips will help you in filing an insurance claim or if you get into legal action over a vehicle accident.
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