Imagine driving home to North Prairie after a long day at work. You’re five minutes away when you decide to stop for takeout to bring home, but just as you turn into the parking lot of your favorite restaurant, you hear a loud screech! A car speeds in just as you are and runs smack into your passenger’s side.
Your car’s severely damaged and so is theirs. What do you do now? Is this covered your insurance?
If you’ve never been in a car accident before, a situation like this one can be daunting.
Fortunately, we’ve got your back. Below, we’ve created a go-to guide for knowing exactly what to do directly after a car accident as well as how you can file an insurance claim to have your car fixed.
What to Do Right After You’ve Been in an Accident
You’ll naturally be shaken after a car accident of any kind — even a small one. That’s why it’s important to try to calm yourself down and focus. There are several things you’ll need to do.
First, make sure that you never admit the accident was your fault, and this is true even if you think it was your fault. Also, never sign anything unless it is for your insurance company or the police. You will need to contact the police to file a report & you also contact your insurance company to begin the claims process. You’ll be assigned a claims specialist who will take the lead.
Immediately after the accident, move your car to a safe location if it’s not already in one. Check everyone in the car including yourself to make sure that all are unharmed. Don’t hesitate to call an ambulance if necessary.
You’ll also need to exchange information with the other driver. Get the following information from them:
- Name
- Address and phone number
- Driver’s license and license plate numbers
- Insurance company name and policy number
- Their make and model of car, plus a description
Lastly, if it is safe to do so, take photographs of the scene, including individual photographs of each car, any other locations that are pertinent to the accident (such as where the car who ran into you came from), and pictures of any insurance sustained.
How to Work With a Claims Specialist to File a Claim
Your claims specialist will want to meet with you or speak with you on the phone about where to take your car for repairs. They may advise that you take your car to the garage of your choice, or they might have an auto body shop that they work with regularly. If the latter is an option, it may be easier to get your estimate preapproved.
If your car is totaled, you’ll need to get a tow truck, which our claims specialist will be able to help you with. Remember not to make any big moves or spend any money before speaking with your claims specialist as it may be covered, but if you use the wrong company, you may not be reimbursed. All estimates must be pre-approved before you can have repairs completed.
Once you have your car at an auto body shop, speak to your claims specialist about getting a rental car if you have this endorsement on your policy. Other optional endorsements include GAP coverage and New Car Replacement coverage.
How’s Your Auto Insurance Policy?
If you want to be completely safe on the road, you need to have a full-coverage auto insurance plan with ample limits. It’s the only way to make the claims process as easy and fast as possible. Wolfgram Insurance has numerous auto insurance plans available to meet your needs.
If you’re unhappy with your current policy or would like to take a second look at your current policy, contact Wolfgram Insurance today to learn about your options.
