 |
 |
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||||||
What to Do When You Are in a Fender-Bender
edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady
It can be hard to think clearly after the shock of a fender-bender. You may want
to print this tip sheet and keep it in your vehicle. Even the safest and most
careful drivers can be victims of an accident, so it is important to be
prepared, no matter how clean your driving record is. Follow these steps for
what you need to do once the dust settles from a fender-bender:
Step-by-Step Instructions
1.
2.
Stay calm: Do not panic or become upset. If you have young children in the car,
they will take their lead from you. Insurance companies advise that you should
never admit fault at the accident. Be sure that you are polite and calm to
everyone involved, including the police officers. Also make sure to get the
officer’s name, district and police report number.
3. Gather information: Exchange contact information with others involved in the
accident, getting important details like full name, address, phone number &
insurance carrier. Almost 15% of all accidents are caused by uninsured drivers
according to Insurance.com, so ask to see a current insurance ID card. Also, be
sure to write down the year, make, model and license plate number for each
vehicle involved. If there are any witnesses involved, gather their contact
information as well. It is a good idea to keep a small notebook in your vehicle
for this reason.
4.
5. Report the accident to your insurance company right away no matter how minor:
A driver may offer to settle with you in cash to avoid increased insurance
rates. On average, rates increase 20% or more for the first accident, according
to Insurance.com. But, there’s no guarantee you’ll get paid directly, so let
your insurer handle the details.
Be Prepared
Remember to always have the following items accessible in your car. In the case
of an accident, they will make the process smoother for all parties involved:
These tips came from
Women-Drivers.com LLC It
connects women and families to Certified Women-Drivers Friendly™ car dealers.
Madelyn Miller is a travel and automotive writer. Read her stories on
www.travellady.com,
www.carladynews.com,
www.yogayaya.com,
www.chocolateatlas.com,
www.cocktailatlas.com,
www.teaAtlas.com and
www.coffeeatlas.com |
||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Safety first: If it is
appropriate and safe to do so, move your vehicle out of the way so other cars
can pass. However, do not leave the scene of the accident. Call 911
immediately for medical assistance if anyone is injured and ask for a police
officer to come and take a report. 