It’s no secret that one of the most dangerous things we do on a daily basis is drive a car. According to Fox Business, there are over 10 million accidents of all kinds – fender benders, scratches, and crashes. The report goes on to say that over the typical driver’s lifetime, he or she will get into approximately three to four accidents. Do you know what to do if you were to get into a crash?
Once tragedy strikes and your vehicle has made contact with another’s stop and take stock. Turn off your engine, turn on your hazard lights, take ten deep breaths, and assess the situation.
After a crash, you may have many emotions — nervousness, shock, guilt, fear, even anger — all of these are normal. But, the calmer you are, the better prepared you will be to handle the situation. Keep yourself and others safe and call 911 if there are any injuries. The next step, after assessing the situation and calling 911, is the exchange of insurance information.
Once the police arrive, they will gather the appropriate insurance and personal information, gather testimonies and write their report. This report will explain the series of events that ensued and state who is at fault. This will decide whose insurance company will need to cover damages to either car.
Remember, as all of this is going on, it is important to remain calm. Even if the accident was your fault, it is important to take a minute to breathe and not beat yourself up. If you are irritable or angry, it may not sit well with the dispatchers that arrive at the scene or the other party (parties) involved. If you are kind and calm, the other parties may be more forgiving and may not seek additional punishment or restitution past the reparation of damages.
Speaking of damages, it is important to take photos of damage for your personal records to compare to estimates. If your car has obtained a significant amount of damage, you are in the market for some autobody repair. When it comes to making a seamless transition from damaged to flawless, no one does it better than Downtown Autobody. There is no better place for reasonable estimates and quality repairs.
Getting into an accident is not an easy thing, and it can be hard to stay calm amidst the chaos. Just remember that the keys to moving on from an accident include staying insured, so that you can provide the proper proof, remaining calm and kind, and finding the perfect autobody repair shop for your vehicle.
