Most of us have been involved in a car accident at some point or another, and most of us have felt the panic of “What do I do now?!” that often comes right after it happens.
So you’ve been involved in an auto accident. What now? The main thing is to make sure you and everyone involved is okay and to try to stay calm.
Next, try to remember these 7 steps to make the insurance claims process easier:
1. Check if Anyone is Injured
As we said at the beginning, your first task should always be to find out if anyone is injured. The most important thing is always making sure everyone involved is okay.
2. Call the Police
Your next step should be to call the police as soon as possible. When they arrive, be sure they take a full, detailed report and everything is well documented. You may end up relying on that report later.
(If the accident is on private property, the police may not respond unless there are injuries involved.)
3. Get the Other Driver’s Contact Information
After calling the police, write down the other driver’s contact information. This can be easy to forget in the moment, but it’s important that you know how to contact them in case of complications.
4. Get the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Information
As important as getting the other driver’s contact information is getting their insurance company’s information. Doing this upfront will ensure that the insurance process goes smoothly without any unnecessary complications.
5. Write Down the Driver’s License Number of the Other Driver
It is not enough to get partial information. In addition to the contact information and insurance company information, you need to get the driver’s license number of the other driver involved.
6. File an Accident Report
If the police respond and are there to make a full report, get a copy of the police report and exchange slips.
7. Contact Your Insurance Company
After all is said and done on the scene, contact your insurance company as soon as possible with all the accident information so they can help you and follow through on the claims process.
Bonus step: Be Safe!
A car accident is the last thing we want for anyone and the last thing anyone wants for themselves. We’re going to state the obvious and remind you that safety should always, always be your primary concern—both for yourself and the other drivers on the road.
It is the responsibility of your insurance company to make such a stressful process as simple as possible for you and help you out in every way they can. At Simmons Insurance Agency, we take that responsibility very seriously! If you need any kind of insurance assistance, feel free to reach out to us! We would love to hear from you, and we promise to offer you the best possible service, every time.