What to do after an accident.

Do you know what to do immediately following an accident and the steps to take care of yourself and your car?

Let Medford Auto Body help you out!

Firstly NEVER LEAVE THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT! You could be charged with a hit and run and many other serious offenses.

Next, check on your health and anyone else involved. If you feel serious neck and/or back pain, stay put. If not and it's safe, check on the others involved. If the scene is hazardous, fluids leaking, fires, etc, get to safety immediately.

Next, call the police if someone hasn't already. The officer(s) will ask for your insurance information, registration and license of any drivers involved. They will then compile the information into a police or crash report and issue any violations needed. The police or crash report will be available about a week after the accident.

EXCHANGING INFORMATION

While waiting for the police to arrive, exchange information with other drivers, if any are involved. This includes insurance information, names, numbers, policy numbers, etc. Remember, even if it was your fault, do not accept fault to anyone involved. That is for the insurance companies and police officers to decide. This is a good time to talk to any witnesses and see what they saw. This is also a great time to take pictures of your car, any other vehicles, property damage and if there are any injuries. This could be great, especially if there is any other damage done to the vehicle between the accident and an insurance appraiser.

If anyone is hurt, the police will call an ambulance and tow trucks if necessary. They will asses the scene to see if it's safe and if there are any injuries that need tending to. If any vehicles have to be towed away, the police will most likely need you to get a tow release before you can get your car to a repair shop.

Here are a few things to check for to see if the car is safe to drive: All lights must be in good working condition, no fluids should be leaking, nothing should be touching the tires in any direction, tires must be fully inflated, no smoke is coming from the car, if you feel unfit to drive, if there is airbag deployment and if electrical problems are present. Clearly is the car was in a serious accident, do not attempt to drive it.



Call your insurance company and explain, in detail, what happened. They will then explain the process to you and set you up with a rental, if you have the coverage. The insurance companies can not tell you what shop to use. They may suggest a reliable shop however. If the car needs to be towed, the insurance company will arrange a tow from the tow yard it is in to the repair shop to be fixed.



If the accident was a hit and run, call the police right away. Try to remember, if possible, any information about the car and driver. After everything with the police is settled, call your insurance company. Hit and run accidents are a 'no fault' accident and will not count against you.



If there are any visits for injuries, tell the insurance company too. If the accident is not your fault, your insurance company will be able to tell you and help you get payment from them. If it was clear who was at fault, you may be able to go through the other person's insurance company directly. They will set you up with an appraiser and possibly rental car. The finances and any injuries will be taken care of by them as well.

ADJUSTER WRITING AN ESTIMATE

The next step is someone to asses your car. Whichever insurance company you use will send an adjuster or appraiser out to thoroughly estimate the damage on the vehicle. They will produce you with the estimate, as well as the repair shop of your choice and the insurance company. If the car is drivable, it may be easier to choose a soon, but convenient time for you. If the car is non drivable it will most likely be fixed right away.






Sometimes the insurance company will total the car if the damage is more than the car is worth. Factors in this can/will be the value of the car, rental charges, custom upgrades, fees for a new car and car loans. The car loans will be payed off first with the amount the insurance company decides to pay out for the car. The remaining is left to the owner of the vehicle. The car is usually sold for scraps, which the insurance company keeps the money for.

If you decide you want to keep the totaled car, there are a few options. This can only happen if they think the car will be safe to drive. Remember, just because it is declared a total loss does not mean it can not be repaired. Some totaled cars do not look like what you would expect. You still have to pay the deductible for the loss and you may not get back everything you originally paid for the vehicle. It is face value now.

SAMPLE SALVAGE TITLE

If you and the insurance company decide together that you can buy back the car with a salvage title, you will then receive the remaining payment. Deductions will be taken from the payout you would get, including any scrap money they would have gotten for your car, the deductible, any fees for the salvage title and any other fees involved. Then you will need to pay for the repairs to the car on your own. It is usually a better bet to just accept the payout and get a different, safer car. Some people keep the car to scrap or donate it.

The title can read salvage, flood or reconstructed. This can be hard to resell or trade in. A salvage title can also be from weather, fire, stolen, vandalism or accident. This is also good to remember when you are buying a car too.



The car will then be repaired at the shop of choice.