What to Do After a Car Accident

Whether you’ve encountered a major accident or a fender bender, car accidents happen and they can be traumatic and jarring for those involved. Knowing what to do after a car crash is essential because it helps make the event less upsetting. When you’re shaken up or upset, it can be hard to think about what happens next, which is where our service experts at Gunter Nissan of Martinsville come in. We’ve created a handy guide discussing what happens following an accident. 

Checklist to Follow After a Car Accident

Minor Accidents

Minor car accidents typically include someone backing into your vehicle in a parking lot or a fender-bender at an intersection. After a minor accident, here is what to do next:

• First, check to see if you or your passengers need medical attention. If so, call an ambulance right away.

• If you’re okay and not seriously injured, pull your vehicle over to a safe spot. Do not go too far from the scene of the accident, but you also want to make sure that you’re not blocking traffic. 

• Call the police. Even if the other driver says that you don’t need to, it’s always important to call the police. You want to have an official report document since your insurance may ask for it.

• Exchange contact information. This includes phone numbers, email addresses, and insurance information of the drivers that are involved. If possible, get a photo of everyone’s driver’s license, insurance cards, and license plate numbers. You also want to get the contact information of any witnesses to the accident.

• Document your vehicle’s damage. Take detailed photos of the damage to each of the vehicles involved, as well as getting a photo of the accident scene.

• Call your insurance provider. Call them as soon as possible and give them full details of the accidents. The sooner you call, the sooner that the claims process will begin.

Major Accidents

Major accidents are much more dangerous, and serious injuries or even possibly fatalities may occur. Of course, your instructions will be a bit different in this case. Follow these steps after a major accident:

• Call 911 right away. If you were injured in the accident, you need to alert emergency personnel immediately. The police should arrive with an ambulance to assess the scene and damage. If immediate medical attention is needed and you can’t document information yourself, the police will have considered this. It’s always important to make sure you follow up to see if you have all of the information needed.

• Contact your insurance provider. Even if another person already filed the claim on your behalf because you were getting medical attention, it’s still good to contact your insurance provider to follow up with them. You will want to make sure that they have all of the information about the accident to ensure that everyone gets compensated properly. 

• Follow up with your physician. If you’re still feeling any pain after the accident, even after being treated by emergency personnel, visit your regular physician.

How to File a Car Accident Insurance Claim

Filing an insurance claim is relatively straightforward. The process will differ depending on your provider and coverage, but learning how to file a car insurance claim is essentially the same across the board. When you file your claim, you will need to provide the following:

• Your insurance policy number
• A detailed description of how the accident occurred
• Date, time, and location of the accident
• All the collected contact and insurance information from other involved parties
• Name of the police department involved, as well as the police report number (if applicable)

After that, your vehicle will be evaluated by an insurance adjuster who helps estimate the costs of repairs, coverage, and more. If the photos and police report are not enough, you may need to have a meeting with the person who inspected your vehicle.

Learn More From Gunter Nissan of Martinsville!

At Gunter Nissan of Martinsville, we understand an accident can shake a person, which is why we work hard to provide information to help you prepare and handle your car accident insurance claim. Feel free to visit our body shop and service center if you prefer our factory-trained and certified technicians to handle your vehicle. Contact us online with any questions or schedule an appointment online today.