A fender bender accident might not seem like a big deal at first. The hit was small and the damage is visibly minor. You feel fine and aren’t concerned about possible injuries. What’s the next step? A fender bender collision, although may seem minor at first glance, could result in more severe damage later on if not handled properly. If you’re not sure what to do after a fender bender, then continue reading below.
Here’s everything you need to know!
Table of Contents
Pull Over to a Safe Location
After the accident happens, it’s important you pull over to a safe location. Because it’s only a fender bender, your car should still be driveable. Rather than stopping in the middle of the street and assessing the situation, which is dangerous, find the closest safe place and pull off there.
Once safe, you can then move on to the next step.
Inspect Passengers for Injuries
Now that you’re safe, inspect yourself and all your passengers for signs of common injuries. Even a small fender bender can cause injuries. Check your entire body and have all your passengers do the same.
Be sure to schedule an appointment with a doctor afterward as well to ensure there are no injuries, even if you believe you’re fine.
Snap Pictures of Both Cars
After assessing injuries, grab your phone and begin to snap pictures of your car and the other driver’s car. Pictures are a main piece of evidence when explaining the car accident to your insurance company.
You can also take pictures of the street and the roads involved in the crash to better explain what happened as well.
Exchange Contact Information
Now it’s time to exchange contact information with the other driver. You’ll want to get their name and information about their vehicle and insurance company too. A great way to do this is to exchange insurance cards.
You can snap a quick picture of the front and back of their insurance card, which will give you all the information you need.
Contact Law Enforcement
If someone else hasn’t already done it, then be sure to contact local law enforcement as well. Any debris from the accident left in the road will need to be cleared away, and local law enforcement will know how to do this.
It’s also important to explain the car accident to them and have them write up a report. If someone was at fault, then a ticket should be issued. The accident report will also be a crucial piece of information when explaining the accident to your insurance company.
Contact Your Insurance Company
The last step is to contact your insurance company and let them know about the accident. You can then provide them with the other driver’s information, the pictures of the scene and damages, and the report written by the officer.
If there are any issues with your claim or if you suffered injuries, then you’ll want to contact an injury attorney such as the attorneys at www.cogburncares.com.
Handle Your Fender Bender Accident Correctly
If you’ve been in a fender bender accident, be sure to handle it correctly. Use the information given in this guide above to ensure proper fender bender etiquette.
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