What you do after an accident matters. Just follow the checklist we compiled for you and don’t worry about the damages - Hubbell Auto Repair has experienced staff to fix your car.
Check Yourself and Your Passengers for Injuries
The first thing you need to do after a car accident is to determine if anyone in your vehicle is injured. First of all, check yourself; if you are not too hurt and you can move easily, check the people around you. If you’re able to move and it’s safe to get out of your vehicle, check on the occupants of the other vehicles involved as well. Call 911 and request an ambulance if necessary and follow the instructions of the operator.
Only after doing all this can you start worrying about and figuring out how much the car accident repair will cost.
Call 911
Even if you suffered a minor damage car accident, you should call 911. In some states reporting the accident to the police is legally required. Whether it was a minor accident or a major collision, you will need a police report to make a valid claim for damages. If the vehicles are not blocking the traffic, they should remain where they are until the police arrive. Calling the police is essential as the police officers have to document your accident. Keep in mind that under Iowa's laws, you should stay at the scene of a car accident even if it only resulted in property damage. Otherwise, you could face criminal charges. You should always stop, exchange information with the other driver, and await instructions from law enforcement. In the meantime, you can check the car for damage so you can estimate how much the car accident repair will cost.
Start Gathering Evidence
This is another unskippable step on our car accident checklist. If you’re not too badly injured, stay calm, and try to gather some evidence. Collect information from the other driver, including their name, driver’s license, insurance details, and license number plate. This, too, will assist your attorney or insurer. You should take photos of the scene from different angles, as well as document witness statements and their contact information.
Write Down Everything You Remember
After all the initial panic dies down, take some time to write down everything you recall about the car accident and the moments leading up to it. Make a note of the date, location, and time of the crash as well as the direction in which you were driving and what each vehicle involved in the accident was doing.
Notify Your Car Insurance Company
Call your insurance company as soon as possible and report the car accident regardless of who was at fault. This is a crucial step on your auto accident checklist, and if you skip it, you may not be able to recover your losses. If you can, call your insurer while you’re at the crash scene so they can tell you what you need to do next. This will help to ensure that your vehicle gets repaired quickly and you’re back on the road in the shortest time possible.