If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you know the feeling of wanting to get away from the situation as quickly as possible. Even if nobody sustained any major injuries, the moment of impact and the unknown is something that haunts everyone who has experienced it. 

Even if you want to turn the other way and let the insurance agencies take care of everything, taking action immediately is crucial. 

Do Your Homework

Following any car accident, there can be a lot of emotion and a desire to avoid the situation. Because of this, taking a few actions today as a precaution can save time and money later. 

Insurance policies vary greatly. Policies can range from minimal coverage to complete coverage, even if the accident was your fault. Understanding and knowing your policy will help ensure you get the coverage you need. 

Hiring an attorney is a wise idea. Having an attorney review the policy with you will clear up any potential loopholes, confusing language, or other issues that may come up later. Doing this will also allow for an attorney to take swift action if needed following an accident. Since they already reviewed the policy with you, they will know how to help.

Finally, make sure that the vehicle is running well. Many accidents are caused by vehicle malfunction, such as worn-out tires, engine failures, or worn-out brakes. Staying on top of these potential issues will not only prevent accidents, but will also save you money on major repairs later. 

Be Active at the Scene

If anyone involved in the accident is hurt, get medical attention immediately. A few extra dollars isn’t worth risking the long or short-term health of anyone. 

However, out of nearly five million accidents a year, 57% reported injuries and another 30% reported minor injuries that did not need immediate medical attention. In other words, most of the time, emergency medical assistance is not necessary. 

In a perfect world, the insurance agency, the other driver, and the police report will all match up well, and there won’t be any issues. However, oftentimes, there is a misunderstanding and having evidence pays off. Taking pictures is one of the most important actions that needs to happen following an accident.

When at the site of the accident, take photos of everything. Doing this will allow any disputes to be settled and evidence to fall in your favor. Additionally, taking photos of your vehicle’s current state is helpful so that nobody can claim that a scratch or dent was present before. Having before and after pictures, as well as pictures of the other vehicle, can literally be worth a thousand words, or in this case, dollars. 

Stay Involved

Once a report has been filed and all the paperwork has been finished, you may want to sit back and hope everything works out. Staying involved in the process and staying in communication with the insurance agency is crucial and does two things:

• Keeps the process moving: Typically, an insurance agency should take about 30 days to complete the process once a claim has been filed. Getting an update after about two weeks can make sure that everything has been accepted and that the process is on track. If 30 days come and go, that’s another time to get in touch and make sure there are no new updates or issues. 

• Prevents Surprises: Occasionally, an insurance adjuster and the agency as a whole will try to find ways to lower their payment. After all, they’re a company trying to make as much money as possible. By staying active and involved in the process, you will be able to react quickly to any decision, negotiation, or other issues that come up. It will also prevent multiple issues from stacking up and causing a headache to work through later.

Following these three steps of preparing early, being proactive at the scene, and staying involved throughout the entire process will help ensure that you get what you need following a car accident.