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What to Do After a Car Accident
How to Appropriately Respond to a Car Accident
To ensure the safety of yourself and others. If you are involved in an accident, it is important to stay calm and assess the situation. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Even if there are no obvious injuries, it is important to seek medical attention to be checked out for any hidden injuries.
Ensure Safety First:
The immediate priority after an accident is safety. If possible, move your vehicle to a safe location, turn on hazard lights, and check for injuries among yourself, passengers, and others involved. Call 911 for medical assistance if necessary.
Notify Law Enforcement:
Contact law enforcement as soon as possible. It's crucial to report the accident to the police as they will create an official accident report, which can be valuable for insurance claims and legal purposes later on.
Exchange Information:
Exchange contact and insurance information with the other parties involved in the accident. Gather names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance details. It would be ideal to be polite and cooperative during this process. Also, make sure to get information from any witnesses as well.
Document the Accident:
Take photos and videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, license plates, road conditions, and traffic signs. This visual evidence can be essential for insurance claims. Write down details such as where the accident took place, what the weather was like, etc.
Seek Medical Attention:
Even if you don't feel injured immediately, it's advisable to seek medical attention. Some injuries may not show symptoms right away, and a medical evaluation can help in documenting any injuries related to the accident.
Notify Your Insurance Company:
Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide them with all the necessary details, including the other driver's information and the accident report number.
Avoid Placing Fault:
While it's essential to cooperate with the authorities and share information, avoid admitting fault or making accusations towards anyone involved. Fault determination is often handled by the insurance companies and legal processes.
Contact an Attorney:
If the accident involves significant injuries or complex liability issues, consider consulting an attorney experienced in personal injury cases. They can provide guidance on your legal rights and potential claims.
Keep Records:
Maintain detailed records of all accident-related expenses, such as medical bills, repair costs, and any missed workdays due to injuries. This documentation will be crucial for insurance claims and potential lawsuits.
Follow Up with Insurance:
Stay in communication with your insurance company throughout the claims process. Cooperate with their investigations, provide requested documents promptly, and keep track of claim progress.
Additional Notes:
When you're using a body shop to get repairs to your vehicle, be aware that the insurance company can recommend a shop, but you are under no legal obligation to use its services. You have the legal right to choose the shop to do your repairs.
Also be aware that insurance companies sometimes try to dictate what type of parts are used in a vehicle's repair. They might insist that a shop not use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, as they are more expensive.
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Testimonials
Harvey Leviton, 09/03/2025
I brought my car in for routine service and because ABS and Traction Control warning lights were on. They have worked on this vehicle before. But this time, they did not tell me that because it was a 20 year old Corvette, they would charge me the classic car labor rate of $250/hour. First, I do not think that a 20 year old vehicle is actually a classic car. The state of MN defines a classic car as being at least 25 years old. And according to Google, the average age of a vehicle on the road is 14 years. But more important than that is the fact that JoAnne, the shop manager told me that a new tech was working on my car. I don't have a problem with that except that if you are charging more to work on a 20 year old corvette it is because it requires special expertise to do so, expertise a new tech is unlikely to have. They also said the car arrived with a dead battery. I find that unlikely as the vehicle is a daily driver and I have had no starting issues with it since I replaced the battery 7 years ago. I suspect, but can't prove, that they left the manual transmission in a gear other than reverse, which will cause a rapid discharge of the battery. I did put a warning tag on the transmission lever to indicate that because not everyone knows, or remembers you have to do that with C-6 corvettes with manual transmissions. They recommended a new battery and I accepted their recommendation because the battery was 7 years old. The only other negative is that I asked them to re-set the oil life remaining indicator and they did not. Fortunately it is pretty easy to do and I did it myself. But for what I paid, I shouldn't have had to. On the positive side, the warming lights are off and the car runs fine. JoAnne is friendly and knows her cars. But I can't give 5 stars for the reasons above.