| Taking Appropriate Actions Following an Accident |
| Written by Fred McConnell | |
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After an automobile accident, you're likely to have quite a few conflicting thoughts and feelings to deal with -- shock and fear from having been in a wreck, concern for your passengers and those of the other car, anger at the other driver or guilt because of your own driving. Keeping a cool head is important to making sure everyone comes out of the accident okay and that you get the full coverage for the wreck that you're entitled to under your insurance policy.
An accident can be a very expensive event, as car repairs and medical bills for the parties involved can be costly. That's why car insurance exists. But if you don't take the correct action after an accident, you may not be able to use the full value of your coverage and could be left on the hook for some very big bills. The first thing you should do after an auto accident is to assess the extent of your injuries and that of the other parties involved. Even a minor wreck can result in some major injuries that may not be immediately apparent. In most cases, everyone should at least be examined by emergency medical personnel. After calling emergency care providers, if necessary, you should then call the police. Law enforcement personnel will then arrive on scene and assist you in getting the crashed vehicles out of the road and begin investigating the accident. It's important that you be honest and truthful with the police, even if the facts of the accident don't put you in a favorable light. Giving differing statements to police and insurers or making false statements can result in your accident not being covered, or, even worse, jail time. At some point you and the other party involved should swap insurance information. Do not admit fault to the other driver at any time. That's for the cops and your insurer to determine and an admission of fault could come back to haunt you in a court case. If there are still any witnesses on the scene, you'll probably want to get their information as well. Also, if you happen to have a cell phone camera or other camera you'll probably want to take pictures of the accident scene. These pictures can help your insurer protect you from bogus claims of more extensive damage than what occurred in the accident, and can help you document the extent of damage to your vehicle as a result of the accident. As soon as possible, call your insurer. Your policy requires immediate notification of accidents, so you need to make the call and report the damage. If you bought your policy from an independent agent, you may want to give him or her a call because independent agents have a little bit of influence with adjusters and can go to bat for you in the event of a dispute. Exclusive agents cannot do this. When the claims process begins, you may be called or visited by a claims adjuster. Be as helpful as possible to the adjuster and answer all of his or her questions as accurately as possible. Fudging the details of an accident may result in you being denied coverage. At some point of the claims process, you're going to want to get a copy of the claim file the adjuster has completed. This will help you catch any mistakes the adjuster may have made. When seeking medical care and repairs for your car, make sure to follow any rules in your policy regarding who to go to and what you can have. You don't want to be denied coverage because you missed a bureaucratic detail. In the majority of accidents, the insurer provides the coverage you purchased with few problems. However, if you feel your insurer isn't living up to the policy, don't be afraid to seek legal representation to help iron things out. An attorney can help you receive fair compensation for your injuries and the damage to your car and help resolve points of contention regarding the facts of the accident. In general, if your insurer hasn't made any move to award you the benefits of your policy 30 days after the crash, you should get in contact with an attorney, as this is often a warning sign that your insurer may be about to litigate against you. By keeping a level head after an accident and making the right moves, you can insure that your claim is accepted and that you get the full value of the car insurance policy that you purchased. |
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