What To Do If You Are in an Auto Accident

At some point in our lives, we may have a car accident. Many people do not know what to do when this happens. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Stop your car. Be sure to not leave the accident scene.
• Get the police and medical help right away. Use your cell phone or get someone else to make the call.
  
• In most U. S. towns, you can call 911.
• When police get at the scene be sure to:
  • Tell them what exactly occurred.
  • Follow their instructions.
  • If you are able, write down the officer's name.
  • Get a copy of the police accident report.
• Get this info from the other driver:
  • Name:
  • Address:
  • Telephone number:
  • Their insurance company:
  • Names and addresses of all passengers
• Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses.
• Write down all the accident facts as soon as you can.
• Call your insurance company at once to inform them of the car accident. There is a time period in which you need to do this. So read your policy.
• Show the damaged car to your claims agent, before you get your car repaired. If it is confirmed that the other driver is at fault, show your car to their claim's agent.
• You may need to get more than one repair shop estimate. You do not need to use the repair shop the insurance company suggests. If your repair shop charges more than the other company's suggested shop, you may have to pay the difference.
• If your car is a total loss, it means the cost to fix it is more than what it is worth. Most total loss claims are settled by:
  • Replacing the car with a comparable one.
  • Or offering the actual cash value of the car using national or computer market data sources.
• Call Dr Langeland to schedule an appointment as soon as you can after the accident.
• It is important to have a complete examination and x-rays to be certain of the extent of your injuries.  Delay in care is not wise and may harm your recovery!