1. STAY CALM AND MAKE SURE YOU’RE NOT HURT.
Your heart may be race and your thenar start out to sudate , so take several slow , deep breath and test to stay calm . You ’ll want to remember clearly and act methodically to effectively deal with the site . Make indisputable you and your passenger are not offend , paying extra attention to your head , neck , and wooden leg for any sign of harm . If you or your passengers are hurt , call 911 to get medical aid .
2. GET THE OTHER DRIVER’S 411.
reckon on where the buffer bender occurred , square off whether it ’s safe for you to stay where you are or move your car over to the side of the road . Although your first inherent aptitude might be to apologize to the other driver , do n’t say sorry . If the other equipment driver decides tocommit insurance fraudor process you in the future , your apology will be an admission of guilt . alternatively , ask , “ Are you alright ? ” Then switch your full name , address , phone act , and automobile insurance info , including your policy company ’s name , earpiece number , and your policy number ( this information should be on your indemnity ID menu ) .
3. TAKE COPIOUS PHOTOS AND NOTES.
Besides exchanging information , you should also take photo of the accident scene , the military position of the car , any damage to your car and the other cable car , and permit plate numbers . Your insurance troupe may later involve you questions about details you had n’t even deal , so the more pic you take , the well . Also jot down the make and poser of the other machine driver ’s car , the time and particular date of the fender carouse , and the exact location ( address or hybridization street ) of the accident . Sketch a diagram of which direction and what speed you and the other driver were traveling aright before the hit . And if anyone run across the buffer bender , postulate if you may get their name and contact information so they can roleplay as eyewitnesses .
4. CALL YOUR CAR INSURANCE COMPANY.
Call your car indemnity troupe ( the phone number should be on your insurance wag ) to report the accident . If the other driver suggests you convert money without secernate your insurance companies , courteously decline and instead play along communications protocol . Your insurance company will advise you on whether you should call the police force , how tofill out a claim form , and what repair shops you’re able to bring your car to , if necessary .
5. CALL THE POLICE…
If injuries occurred or the damage due to the hit is more than a sure monetary verge , you should call the law after you call your insurance company . Whether you ’re contractually obligated to account the accidentvaries by state , so it ’s good to wreak it safe by calling the police force . come a police account of the fortuity can protect you against fraud and wait on as evidence if the other machine driver incorrectly claims you were at fault . Even if you only see minor scratches on your motorcar , the existent price of flummox your bumper repaired could be much gamey than you anticipate .
6. …AND THE DMV, IF NECESSARY.
Similarly , you should call the DMV to need if you call for to report the chance event to them . This varies by state as well , but generally if injuries occur or the damage to either automobile is above a certain threshold , you ’ll have to account the collision to the DMV . More monetary damage often occurs between two cable car ofmismatched sizing , such as a thick car and an SUV , so keep that in brain when trying to estimate the damage .
7. MONITOR YOURSELF CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE TRULY NOT INJURED.
According toConsumer Reports , epinephrin canmask symptomsof a more serious harm , so keep a close center on yourself in the days following the fender bender . Examine your body in a full - length mirror and watch out for any soft - tissue paper damage that can take a day or two to show up . If you have any pain or dizziness , see your medico .
