What to Do After a Car Accident

No matter if you find yourself in a minor accident, or something more serious has occured, it can be extremely jarring and traumatic. If you know what to do after a car crash, you can be less worried and better prepared for the process to follow with your insurance. It can be difficult to think about what comes next, however, it’s important to understand what to do when it does happen. Check out our online guide at Hyundai Inland Empire with our finance team to learn what to do after a car accident.

What to Do After a Car Accident Checklist

Minor Accidents

A fender-bender at a stop light or someone backing into your car in a parking lot are examples of minor car accidents. Here’s what you should do after a minor car accident:

1. First and foremost, check to see if you or your passengers need medical attention. If so, call an ambulance right away.
2. If you’re in stable condition, pull your vehicle over to a safe spot. You don’t want to stray too far from the scene of the accident, but you also don’t want to block traffic.
3. Call the police. Even if the other driver suggests that you don’t need the police for a minor accident, you should still call. It’s best to have an official report documented, and your insurance company may require it.
4. Exchange contact information. Exchange phone numbers, email addresses, and the insurance policy information of the other driver(s) involved. It’s also important 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.
5. Document your vehicle’s damage. Take detailed photos of the damage to both your vehicle and the other vehicle or vehicles involved. If possible, you should also get a photo of the accident scene.
6. Call your insurance provider. The sooner you tell them the details of the accident, the sooner the claims process can begin.

Major Accidents

Major accidents tend to result in serious injury—possibly even fatalities. The steps to take following a major accident are a bit different. They include:

1. Call 911 right away. If you’re seriously injured, you should alert emergency personnel or have someone call on your behalf immediately. The police should come along with 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 likely have considered this. However, it’s always important to follow up to ensure you have all the information you need.
2. Contact your insurance provider. Even if someone already filed the claim on your behalf while you were receiving medical attention, 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.
3. Follow up with your physician. If you’re still feeling any pain after the accident and after being treated by emergency personnel, you should visit your regular physician for additional help.

How to File a Car Accident Insurance Claim

When filing an insurance claim, it should be relatively straightforward. Though the process may differ slightly depending on your coverage and provider, learning how to file a car insurance claim is mostly universal. When you file a claim, you’ll need the following information on hand:

• 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)

After the claim has been filed, you’ll have an insurance adjuster evaluate your vehicle to help you estimate the cost of repairs, coverage, and more. If the photos and police report are not sufficient, you may need to plan a meeting to have your vehicle inspected in person.

Let Hyundai Inland Empire Help You Get Back on the Road

When the time comes for repairs, trust the Hyundai Inland Empire service center to help you get your vehicle repaired and back on San Bernardino roads in no time at all. In the meantime, if you have any questions or want to learn more about our other financing tips and tricks, be sure to check out our online guides, then contact our team.