What to Do After a Car Accident

What to Do After a Car Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide

Minor Accidents

If you get into a fender bender on Bayside roads or someone back into your car in the grocery store parking lot, these would be classified as minor accidents. Here’s what you should do after getting into a minor accident:

• Immediately check to see if anyone in the vehicle needs medical attention. If so, call an ambulance right away.
• If you’re in stable condition, pull your vehicle over to a safe spot where you aren’t blocking traffic. But, be sure not to venture too far away from the scene of the accident.
• Call the police no matter what. Even if the other driver suggests that police involvement isn’t necessary for a minor accident, it’s always best to have an official report documented, and your insurance company may even require it.
• Exchange phone numbers, email addresses, and the insurance policy information of the other driver(s) involved. You’ll also want to get a photo of everyone’s driver's licenses, license plate numbers, and insurance cards. If there were any witnesses to the accident, you should also ask for their contact information.
• Take detailed photos of the scene. Get pictures of the damage to your vehicle and any of the other vehicles involved.
• Call your insurance provider as soon as possible. The sooner you notify your insurance provider, the sooner the claims process can begin.

Major Accidents

Major accidents differ from minor accidents in Flushing as they can result in serious injuries or even fatalities. Thus, the steps following a major accident are slightly different:

• Call 911 right away immediately. If you’ve been seriously injured in the crash, notify emergency personnel or have someone call on your behalf. The police will be accompanied by an ambulance to assess the scene and damage. If you need immediate medical attention and cannot document important information on your own, the police will have likely considered this. However, it’s always important to follow up to ensure you have all the information you need.
• Contact your insurance provider to file a claim. Even if someone has already filed the claim on your behalf, you should follow up with your insurance provider. You’ll need to give them more information about the accident to ensure everyone is properly compensated.
• Follow up with your physician if you’re still feeling any pain after the accident.

How to File a Car Accident Insurance Claim

When you get into an accident in Roslyn, filing an insurance claim will be relatively straightforward. While the process may differ depending on your provider and coverage, learning how to file a car insurance claim is mostly the same across the board. When filing a claim with your insurance provider, you’ll need to give the following information:

• Your insurance policy number
• Detailed description of how the accident occurred
• Date, time, and location of the accident
• All the collected contact and insurance information from other involved parties
• Name of the police department involved, as well as the police report number (if applicable)

Once you’ve provided the necessary information, your vehicle will be evaluated by an insurance adjuster who will help you estimate the cost of your repairs, coverage, and more. If the photos and police report are not sufficient, you may have to schedule an in-person meeting to have your vehicle inspected in person.

North Bay GMC: Experts on All-Things Automotive

Now that you know what to do after a car accident and how to file a car accident insurance claim, if you have any remaining questions about the post-accident procedure, reach out to us today. If you’ve recently been in an accident and your vehicle needs repairs, schedule a service appointment at the North Bay GMC service center. Our expert technicians will have your car like-new in no time!

Want to learn more service tips and tricks? Find out how to check brake fluid and how much oil changes cost today!