Call 911 Before Leaving the Accident Scene
The first thing you should always do after a car accident is make sure no one has been seriously injured. If someone has been badly hurt, dial 911 immediately to request emergency medical assistance.
Even when no one appears to have suffered a serious injury, you should always call the police and request an officer be dispatched to the scene. This is an important step since the official police report serves as an important piece of documentation of the accident. In many instances, the police report will provide insight regarding who was at fault, and this information will be very helpful when you file a claim with your insurance company.
Sometimes the other driver may ask you to avoid calling the police, especially in situations where the accident didn’t result in large scale property damage or a serious injury. However, it’s always best to ask for a police officer to evaluate the accident scene and file a report. This is especially true if you believe the other driver caused the accident.
Exchange Information with the Other Driver
Before leaving the scene of the accident, make sure you exchange the following information with the other driver:
- Name
- Contact information
- Vehicle registration information
- License plate number
- Driver’s license number
- Insurance information
If there are any witnesses present, record their names and contact information as well.
Avoid Discussing Fault
Never discuss fault or apologize when speaking with the other driver or a police officer at the scene of the accident. Any admission of fault on your part can potentially impact your insurance claim. It’s best to let the police and the insurance agents analyze the accident evidence in order to determine fault.
Take Pictures of Vehicle Damage
Notify Your Insurance Company
You’re required to notify your insurance company of the accident within a timely manner. Answer all questions honestly, but don’t admit fault to the insurance adjuster. In many instances, the insurance company may want to schedule an appointment for an adjuster to examine the damage to your vehicle.
Get Several Collision Repair Estimates
Before fixing your vehicle, your insurance company will want you to get a collision repair estimate breaking down the cost of all necessary repairs. It’s always best to get estimates from 2-3 collision repair shops. This will allow you to compare the list of necessary repairs as well as the prices quoted for each item. When you have several estimates, it will give you a better understanding of what truly needs to be done. Keep in mind that your insurance company may also want their adjuster to provide you with an estimate before signing off on repairs.
The auto body shop should detail the following information as part of the estimate:
- An itemized list of all necessary repairs
- Which parts need to be replaced
- Whether replacement parts will be new or second-hand
- Whether original manufacturer parts or generic parts will be used
While cost is generally a factor for most people, it should not be the only factor. In many instances, you’ll get what you pay for. When you choose the lowest estimate, you may run the risk of receiving poorer quality repair work.
Choose a Collision Repair Shop
Before choosing an auto body shop, check out their reviews online. This will allow you to learn about the experiences of other customers. Be wary of working with a shop that has numerous poor reviews.
In addition to working with a reliable collision repair shop that has a strong reputation, you should always ask for a written guarantee associated with any work performed. This will give you piece of mind that repairs will be completed correctly.
Before the shop begins work on your vehicle, discuss protocol for how they will handle any unexpected repairs not listed as part of the estimate. You should also speak with your insurance company to make sure they cover these extra repairs. Once the work has been completed, examine the vehicle carefully before taking it home. If you’re not satisfied with the repairs, work with the body shop to make sure they address any issues you may have.
Accurate Auto Body Can Help
If you’re involved in a car accident this winter, Accurate Auto Body can help. We have more than 25 years of experience, and we offer comprehensive collision repair services to address any damage your vehicle has sustained.
You’ll benefit from our exclusive Focus On You Service System™ which ensures you receive the exceptional quality service you deserve. When you work with Accurate Auto Body, you can count on:
- Highly personalized attention throughout the repair process
- Guaranteed pricing
- Faster turnaround times
- Guaranteed delivery dates
- Auto repair consulting to ensure you understand all of your options
- Flexible scheduling options
- Repair update options that meet your unique needs
- Full auto insurance coordination
By placing the needs of our clients first, we’re able to deliver the exceptional customer service you deserve. Our goal is to provide the finest quality collision repairs in order to restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition. Our technicians have extensive experience working on all makes and models of vehicles, ensuring we’re able to address any items that are unique to your specific vehicle.
If you don’t have collision insurance, we can still help. Our team regularly handles repairs that don’t go through insurance, and we’ll work with you on a repair plan that fits within your budget.
Schedule an Appointment
Please contact us today to schedule an appointment. Accurate Auto Body serves customers in Aurora and throughout the Denver metro area.
I was in a car accident, and my car ended up getting damaged. It makes sense that I would want to find a professional mechanic to fix it for me! I’ll be sure to get pictures of the damage before I have them fixed, though.
Thank you for suggesting to check any car body shop online for any reviews you might find on them. This way, if there are poor reviews you will know. My husband was in a small auto accident last weekend. It was small enough that the car runs, yet it was large enough to not be able to close the doors. One right fender is also in need of replacing. We will call for a collision repair specialist sometime this week.
It’s great that this article talked that you could take photos to be evidence after the crash. Last night, a friend told me that he was involved in a car collision that damaged the bumper of his Mazda 3. Thanks to this enlightening article, I’ll tell him he can consult trusted Mazda collision repair services as they can provide more information about their rates and services.
Thank you for explaining how you should get a few different estimates. I’ve been wondering how to go about getting my car fixed after my accident this week. I’ll be sure to talk to a few different companies to figure out where to take our car.