After an auto accident, you must remember to STAY CALM. How can I do that you ask? Try to keep your emotions at bay and think with your head. Try to remember what you have learned from you insurance agency.
First, ask if the other driver(s) are ok. Ask if he or she is injured and ask if anyone else in their vehicle is injured. Another important point to remember is to protect yourself by not discussing who is at fault. Never discuss with the individual you were involved with who caused the accident or who did what. Whatever you do, do not admit that you were at fault in the accident. Also, do not let your temper ever show; always stay calm and maintain a very professional attitude. The next thing to do is to remain at the scene. Second, call the police to report the accident. Most likely you will need the local authorities to report the accident and write a report that summarizes what happened and who is at fault.
However, if the accident was not on public property such as in a parking lot, the police may not write a report for the accident. Then exchange information with the other driver(s). Finally, report your claim to your insurance provider. The police should make the decision as to who is at fault. Based upon this, the insurance companies should determine how to pay for damages.
After my first auto accident, the first thing I did was to ask the other driver if she was injured. She told me she was fine. I was very nervous; however, I tried my very best to stay calm and maintain a professional demeanor. The next thing I did was to call the police department and report the auto accident. I then swapped auto insurance information with the other driver. I wrote down all of the other driver’s information including name, address, phone number, and insurance provider.
After this I waited in my vehicle until a police officer arrived at the scene. We both took turns providing the police officer with our version of what happened. Once everything was wrapped up, we both left the accident scene. Later that day, I received a call from the other driver’s insurance provider. While on the phone, the insurance company was trying to manipulate me into admitting fault for the accident. Be sure to never admit fault after an accident. My reply to the insurance company was that the police report will determined who is at fault and that they will have to wait until the report is completed. I also advised them to deal with my insurance provider.
This is the job of your insurance provider; to protect your interests as a client. You should not have to deal with any other insurance provider either on the phone or in person, except for your own insurance company. Try to remember that you are paying your insurance company to represent you and to protect your best interests. That is why it always pays to have a good insurance company protecting your interests. But try to remember to always stay calm and professional. The whole event can become increasingly worse if you lose your cool.
D. Moore is co-founder of http://carwreckcases.com and has been happily married for over seven years. He currently raises his children in the heart of dixie.
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