What to do in an Accident?

THE OBVIOUS: Call the Police, PLUS see if there are witnesses available who can corroborate your story and what happened (particularly if you are NOT-at-fault). Get their name, phone number and story written down, if possible.

You need to obtain the other person's driver's license and write down everything (confirming the address listed on their driver's license is correct).

You need to see their insurance card. Write down the name of their carrier and policy number. Double check the name on the insurance card and make sure they match with the driver's name. If not, find out why.

Get their phone number.

IF YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE: take a picture of the other person's damaged vehicle. I have had clients call me during an ongoing claim stating that the damage to the other vehicle is magically more than what was evident at the time of the accident. This has never happened to me but worth considering. I'd still take the cell phone pics just to be safe.

ADMIT FAULT ?: I know the insurance companies would suggest you do NOT admit any fault at the scene. I will leave that decision up to you. I can say that in some accident cases you may not know for sure exactly what happened, where the other driver came from, and whether they were perfectly within the law or making sound driving decisions up to the time of the accident.

This is where witnesses are so valuable.

CLAIMS ADJUSTERS: Keep in contact with your agent if you have any questions during the process. Claims adjusters are hard working people and usually handling many claims simultaneously. Most of these folks are over-worked. They often are hard to reach because they are out on the road handling claims, seeing damaged vehicles, damaged homes, completing tons of paperwork, etc. Having known several claims adjusters, I would suggest kindness when dealing with them.

PARKING LOT CLAIMS: Often the most irritating type of vehicle claim, you should always try to immediately check to see if there were witnesses. Without witnesses, these claims often become a he said/she said and go before an arbitrator. They usually become a 50/50 claim where both parties are at fault.

If you truly believe you were not-at-fault in a parking lot accident, try to secure witnesses names, phone numbers and their account of what happened.

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