So, you get into a minor accident on the road. Between this moment and getting your car to a repair shop, make sure you consider the following:
1. Watch out for your safety
After the accident happens, move to the side of the road, away from the lanes and other drivers. Doing so helps prevent a secondary collision.
2. Check for injuries
Once you’re safe, check yourself and other passengers for injuries. Even if cuts and abrasions aren’t obvious, you might feel dizzy or have an aching sensation. Call 911 if it looks like someone’s clearly injured or in significant pain.
3. Contact the police
When you later work with your insurance company, it’s best to have an accident report. This involves contacting the police to have them put together such a document.
4. Gather information
As you’re waiting for the police to arrive, get the name, telephone number, and insurance information from the other driver involved. As well, if other witnesses are around, see if you can get their names and contact information.
These days, because of camera phones, you can easily take pictures at the scene. Try to do this to document the damage, including taking pictures of the car at multiple angles, the weather conditions, and anything else pertinent on or by the road.
5. Contact your insurance company
Get a hold of your insurance company to open a claim and possibly to have a tow truck come out to your location. For the latter point, think about where you’d like your car to go – the name and address of the body shop or mechanic.
6. When dealing with repairs
Fender benders might be a small claim, or could result in thousands of dollars in damage. Your vehicle, as a result, might have more than a dented bumper: It’s not uncommon for the frame to be distorted or misaligned, and for other crucial parts to have cracks or dents.
As you work with a body shop, make sure after-market parts – cheaper but they corrode sooner – aren’t used, and that the paint job gets close to the original.
Whether you need simple bumper repair or a more extensive job, work with DaSilva’s Auto to get it done. If you’ve been in a fender bender and require repairs, contact our Naugatuck office to schedule an appointment.
