You’ve just been in an automobile collision. You’re shaken up, your adrenalin is running, perhaps you’re frightened or even angry. What do you do?
The steps you take in the next few minutes could save you-or cost you-a lot of money and determine how big an issue this accident might be. There are three main things you’re going to have to consider: health, insurance, and auto repair.
Automobile collisions and auto repair
If you’re lucky, auto repair will be the biggest issue you face after an accident. Let’s be honest: vehicular collisions are sometimes fatal. It’s worth keeping that in mind. Many of us drive every day and we can become cavalier. We could all benefit by taking a moment to remind ourselves to focus and drive safely.
But let’s say nobody is badly hurt and your vehicle needs more damage repair than you do. It’s always beneficial if you can document what kind of auto repair you need right after a collision, such as windshield repair, dent repair, or anything else. But what’s the best procedure to follow an accident? Do you call your insurance company? Or an auto body shop?
What to do after a car accident
Here’s a handy list of things that might benefit you to do after an automobile collision. In the moment, it’s tough to remember to do all these things. If you can do them, though, it will help you in the long run.
- Check for injuries
Because your adrenalin is likely to be high right after a collision, you may not feel much pain right away. Give yourself a moment, take a deep breath, and check for injuries, both cuts and internal injuries, like bone fractures or deep bruises. Make sure your passengers are OK, as well as anybody else involved, like the other driver. - Call emergency services if necessary
If someone is significantly hurt, call 911 before doing anything else. If you don’t need an ambulance or a police presence, then you can contact the police a bit later if you need to file a report. - Move the vehicle(s) out of the way
If there’s no significant personal injury or automobile damage, it’s wise to move the affected vehicles out of the way, to the side of the road or shoulder. - Assess the damage
Take a good look at your vehicle as the other driver should look at theirs. It’s important to know how your vehicle is damaged as soon as possible. Take this time to exchange info with the other driver involved. - Contact your insurance company
Before driving away—or watching the tow truck take your vehicle away—it’s wise to contact your insurance company. You don’t want to forget any details or stall the insurance process. - Find a good auto repair shop
If you and your vehicle are healthy enough to leave the scene of the collision, then it’s time to find an auto body repair shop. Make sure you find a professional shop whose auto repair services won’t conflict with your insurance claim or void any manufacturer’s warranty you have.
What not to do after a car accident
All the above steps are handy things to do after a collision. Hopefully, you can remember them all. Either way, here’s what you should not do after a collision:
- Don’t panic
This can be easier said than done, but most collisions don’t result in grievous injury. That doesn’t mean everybody is fine, though. You don’t want to rush out of your vehicle—potentially into oncoming traffic—to see what damage repair your car might need before taking the time to see if you’re damaged yourself. Try to stay calm and don’t get angry. - Don’t block traffic
It’s good to make a quick check that your vehicle is in good enough shape for you to move it to the side road. After that, you should get out of the way. You don’t want to perform a close inspection of your car or argue with another driver in the middle of the highway. - Don’t forget the evidence
It’s crucial that you document the evidence of any damages properly. Take photos and communicate them to the other driver. This could be crucial for both insurance and auto repair purposes. Some damage might be obvious. For example, if a window is shattered, you’re going to need glass repair. But look closely, because other damage could be subtler. - Don’t delay auto body repair
If your vehicle needs major damage repair and it’s been towed away, then you don’t really have a choice on this one. However, even with something as seemingly small as dent repair, it doesn’t benefit you to procrastinate. Get the auto repair you need as soon as you can. That way, minor damage doesn’t grow into major damage and so your insurance company knows the costs of the damage repair you needed.
The right auto body repair
It’s important to get the best auto repair you can after an accident. Even small collisions can require dent repair. Windshield repair and other auto glass repair are often necessary, too. If you get the other driver’s information, fully document the damage, and contact your insurance provider and a trusted auto body shop quickly, you can save yourself a lot of headaches in the future.
