How to Deal with a Car Accident
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They say the odds prove that every driver will get into at least one major crash during their lifetime. Thankfully, in recent years automobiles have improved significantly and are safer now than ever before. Each year there are millions of vehicle incidents, however, ranging from parking lot fender benders up to multi-car collisions that cause death. Recent stats from 2014 given by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the year 2014 point out that incidents were down just under 1% for the year. Overall, approximately 2,300,000 people suffered injuries, and 32,675 people lost their lives due to car crashes in 2014. This amounts to about 90 people per day nationally dying as a result of automobiles.
No matter how carefully we drive, things beyond our control can cause an accident. These include icy or snowy conditions, extreme rainfall, and the uncontrollable behavior of other motorists. Collisions can happen at any moment, and the next thing you know, you’ve slammed into another vehicle. Now you need to know how to deal with a car accident properly. Get better insurance rates with a quick quote from good to go insurance today.
Here are a few steps to take when you are in the unfortunate situation of being in an auto accident
If you are able and well enough, make a call to a 911 operator and tell them what happened. They will ask if there are injuries and do not hesitate to ask for medical care. It is always better to error on the side of caution and get medical help to prevent severe injury and even death. Many accidents leave people full of adrenaline, and their bodies may feel ok but then later go into shock. The 911 operator will also route the police to the scene as soon as possible.
If you are in a minor crash, and your vehicle is exposed in the path of oncoming traffic, then you need to move it to the shoulder fast. Although this may hurt the evidence of who was at fault for the situation, it could save your life. Many times, after crashes, cars that are not moving end up getting slammed into by inbound traffic, especially in low visibility weather like fog or heavy rain. Each year, there are many terrible situations where a small rear-end collision in fog or rain ends up with massive pile-up collisions and death. Remember always to put the safety of yourself and passengers first.
If you are not seriously injured, you need to gather some relevant info from the other motorist. It is essential to keep calm and not admit any guilt before the police arrive. The responding officer should gather the evidence on the crash and judge who was at fault. What you need to do is get several vital pieces of info right away. This includes:
* The person name, home address, and current phone number
* The license plate
* The damage that occurred to your vehicle and the other driver
* The make of the automobile that hit you
* The other parties insurer, including agent, policy number, and phone number
* Take photos of the damaged area of your car
If the other party is rude and refuses to give you this valuable information, wait until the police arrive. An officer should be able to get this info for you.
Your insurance agent will guide you through the claim process and help you answer any questions you might have. An adjuster might come out to the scene of the incident and do an investigation. However, it is more common than an appointment will be set-up to review the damage done to your automobile. Your adjuster will also decide who was at fault for the accident and work together with the police. The final decision for who was responsible will be made by a police officer, not your insurer.
The faster you provide the necessary information to your agent, the quicker your claim will be processed. Remember always to tell the truth and never lie about events surrounding an incident.
Now that you know how to deal with a car accident, how about you lower your insurance rates? Within a few short minutes, good to go insurance can save you hundreds of dollars on your premiums. All you need to do is get quoted, then choose the carrier and plan that best fits you. There is no obligation, and the service to totally free.