Fender Bender? Here’s What to Do

You’ve been in your first fender bender. Now what? After you’ve gotten over the initial shock and made sure everyone involved is okay, you need to cover all your bases if your insurance claim is going to be processed without any additional hassles.

Pull Over and Report the Accident

After being rear-ended, it’s important to pull your vehicle out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. Even if nobody is hurt, call 911 to report the incident. It’s not technically against the law to exchange insurance information with the other party and go your separate ways, but having the police on the scene will ensure you have a neutral third party involved, which will help you in filing your insurance claim. Before the officer leaves the scene, make sure to ask for a copy of the report for your insurance company.

Take Notes and Exchange Information

Jot down the other driver’s name, phone numbers, address, insurance information, and the vehicle’s make, model, and license number. Take photographs of the vehicles and jot down any accident details you can think of. You’ll also want to get the names and contact information of any witnesses. All of this information is crucial evidence when the other person is at fault, but even if you caused the accident, it’s essential to provide all of this information to the other party.

Call Your Insurance Agent

As soon as you’ve cleared the scene, contact your insurance agent regardless of who is at fault. Your agent will ask you a few questions about the accident and explain your policy coverage and any deductibles you have to pay. You’ll then have to fill out a claims form in order to get the process started. Depending on your insurance company, you may be able to do this online.

Get a Repair Estimate

Your insurance company will likely recommend a specific repair shop or drive-in location where someone will provide you with a repair estimate. This is crucial information for the insurance company, so in some situations, they’ll send out an adjuster to look at your vehicle. A claims adjuster reviews all available information, including police reports, vehicle damage, and witness statements in order to determine fault before providing a cost estimate.

Check Your Claim Status

Most large insurance companies allow you to check the status of your claim online. If yours doesn’t, contact your insurance agent to inquire about your claim status. How fast your insurer will pay the claim depends largely on where you live, as every state is different.

Select a Repair Facility

You can ask your insurance company for any repair facility recommendations if you don’t have a go-to service center for your vehicle, but the choice is up to you. If the other driver was found at fault, his or her insurance company will most likely cover the costs. If not, or if your state laws vary, you will have to pay your deductible.

Getting into an accident is a stressful experience, but dealing with the aftermath doesn’t have to be. Don’t rush, take things slow, and don’t forget to breathe.