Regardless of the severity of the incident, it is normal to feel overwhelmed and even a little confused after you’ve been involved in a car accident. If your car is seriously damaged and/or people are injured, the situation can be even more chaotic. To get things under control and make sure you have everything you need to file a successful insurance claim, follow the steps below.
1. Get to a Safe Place
Immediately after the accident, check yourself and anyone else in your vehicle for injuries. Next, take a look around to see if your vehicle is in a safe place. If it is blocking the flow of traffic or in an unsafe location and no one in the car is seriously injured, move the car to a safer location before calling the authorities. If there are serious injuries, call 911 for emergency medical assistance.
2. Contact the Authorities
Even if you don’t need to call 911 for medical reasons, it is still a good idea to contact the police after a car accident in case an investigation is necessary. When police come to the scene of the accident, be sure to answer any questions they ask as honestly and thoroughly as possible. However, if at all possible, avoid admitting fault for what happened. Admitting fault may impact the outcome of insurance claims filed after the accident.
Keep in mind that the state of Wisconsin requires an accident report to be filed in certain circumstances. If the police do not file a report after the accident, you may need to submit this document to the state yourself.
3. Remain Calm and Use Discretion
It is normal to feel upset when you have been involved in a car accident. However, when interacting with the police and anyone else at the scene of the accident, it is in your best interest to remain as calm as possible. Try to talk to other people on the scene as little as possible, and don’t admit fault to anyone.
4. Exchange Contact and Insurance Information
Although it is important to keep conversations with other people on the scene brief, we do recommend exchanging contact and insurance information before you leave. This information will come in handy when you file an insurance claim.
5. Write Down Your Memory of the Accident
Take a few minutes to record everything you remember about the events leading up to the accident, as well as the accident itself. Record these events in chronological order and be as thorough as you can. This information could prove useful during the claims process, especially if there are any disputes about what happened.
6. Take Photographs
Another way to document the facts associated with the accident is by taking pictures at the scene. Take photos of your vehicle, as well as any other vehicles involved. You should also photograph the scene of the accident itself from several angles so your insurance agent can get a better idea of what happened.
Filing and processing insurance claims can take time, and it is normal for clients to feel overwhelmed while they are waiting for the claim to be closed. As you move through this process, your insurance agent can act as a guide, offering advice and answers to questions along the way. Your insurance agent will also be able to keep you informed about the progress and status of your claim.
Couri Insurance Agency is proud to offer car insurance to clients throughout the Waukesha area. Please contact us today to discuss your needs.
