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Auto Accident Claims

19 Oct

Nobody expects to have an accident. Drivers are always surprised when a collision occurs. Everyone believes the other driver is to blame. Yet, accidents do happen, and the difference between a fair outcome and a disaster can depend on steps you take before any accident even occurs.

It’s easy to see why some accidents happen: someone drives too fast, runs a red light, or turns left in front of oncoming traffic. Even the most careful of drivers sometimes collide with reckless ones, so anyone can be involved in an accident.

Prepare Your Vehicle

In the glove box, you have your vehicle’s registration and your insurance card – make sure your agent’s phone number is there or put it on the handy checklist at the end of this article. Keep a disposable camera in there, too, for taking pictures of both the situation and the damage to all involved vehicles.
Your glove box also ought to include your personal information, name and address, phone, insurance information. You’ll naturally have your cell phone with you at all times, so you’ll be able to call the police and your insurance company whenever you need them.

In Your Trunk

Prepare your vehicle’s trunk with cones, emergency flares, or fluorescent warning triangles. These are required in most states to divert traffic in case of an accident.

Study Your Policy

At home in your leisure, take time to read and understand your policy. Learn a bit of the language that is particular to the insurance business, at least the meaning of terms like Insured, Covered Persons, Damages, and Accident Claims.

Know how much coverage you have and what is covered. Look at the section of your policy marked Declarations, where your coverage is spelled out in detail.

Know a little bit about the procedure of filing a car insurance claim so you are prepared. Remember that no amount of trying to remember details from a stressful time like an accident can substitute for hard evidence, photos, written names and phone numbers, so try to keep focused on getting the info you need. This will make opening an auto accident injury claim go more smoothly, with the ideal result that you are compensated for your loss. Understanding your limits and your requirements is crucial with your insurance company, so learn all you can.

If an accident happens, check yourself and your passengers for injury. Call 911 and report the accident, even if it’s minor. You must get a police report on an accident because without one, you will have difficulty filing a car accident injury claim with your insurance company.

Keep Cool at the Scene

While you may have to clear to the side of the road to let traffic proceed, don’t leave the site until the police are finished taking everybody’s information. Get everybody’s information yourself, including names, addresses, phone numbers, plate and driver’s license numbers, as well as the Vehicle ID Number of the other vehicle. (This is because the plates may not actually belong to that vehicle.) VIN numbers are typically found on the vehicle’s dashboard, or on its registration.

Don’t talk about it with anyone but the police. The natural tendency of anyone in such a situation is to talk it out, repeatedly, to try to reduce his or her feelings of anxiety. Do not ask anyone else what happened, unless you happen to be lucky enough to have witnesses step forward. Do not blame yourself to anyone; talk about the accident only to your own agent or the police.

When you do talk to your agent, remember that this is only the first step in filing an auto accident personal injury claim for your losses. There may come a time later when you feel your insurance company is not giving you the amount you expected; you may have to appeal their decision at some point. For now, it is important to maintain good will with your insurer.

Focus on Safety

While no one expects an accident, it still pays to be informed of conditions and regulations regarding driving in your community. Drivers should make themselves very aware of auto safety laws and the speed limits and possible barriers on the roadways where they drive.

One thing you can do to help yourself if you ever are in an accident is to make sure your car is safe. First and most important, wear your seat belt every time. The following tips will help you stay safe:

See that your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure. This increases both fuel and maneuverability.
Set your rear view mirrors properly, so you are able to see who is coming up beside you.
Make sure your seat is comfortable and set high enough for good visibility.

It is easy to become distracted while driving, and it only takes a moment for things to get out of control, so bring your focus to your surroundings, other drivers, road conditions, and save the cell phone for later.

Naturally, You’ll be Upset

You know that if you have an accident, you are bound to be upset, angry, outraged even, afraid for your life, or possibly hurt by your airbag deployment. Your thinking, observing, rational skills are overshadowed by sheer will to survive. However, if you follow a few simple steps, you can overcome the natural tendency to lose your composure after an accident. Included below is a checklist for you to follow, literally read, and do what it says

What to Do in Case of an Auto Accident

Check for injury; take a deep breath
Call 911
Put out emergency flares
Take pictures of the scene;
Exchange information with the other driver
Name, address, and Telephone number
Insurance company and Telephone number
License and registration
Vehicle plate number AND VIN number
Tell the police what happened
Get copies of the police report to file with your insurance
Call your insurance agent, and tell her what happened. Let a police officer talk to her, if you are too upset to think clearly. Do what your agent tells you, but do not claim to be at fault.