Unexpected Things That Happen After a Car Collision

You’ve been in a car accident. How do you handle it? You may know the basics about what to do after a collision, but unexpected factors may come into play. Be ready!

You’re Too Weirded-out to Know What to Do Next

Even if you’ve done this before, even if you’ve read instructions on how to get through a situation like this, you could panic or go into shock. Just remember to call for emergency help if you need it. Then call the police to make a report.

Sit down, take a deep breath. Once you’re waiting, it’ll give you some time to think about your next steps, which should include exchanging information and taking documentation. Just don’t leave the scene.

You’re Too Shaken Up to Think About Safety

One of the first things you do when you have a collision is pull over to the side of the road and exchange information with the other party, right? Well, what if there’s no good place to pull over, and you find yourself blocking traffic?

In this situation, it’s easy to forget that cars coming from behind may not see you, and may add to your collision woes. Do not stand between or behind cars, even when they’re stopped. A car coming from behind who doesn’t see what’s happening can easily bump into you, or push a car into you. Use hazard lights and cones if you have them.

You're Tempted to Admit Fault & Settle Things Right There

Do not admit fault while on the scene. It’s better to let the experts figure it out, even if you think the situation is cut and dried. Other issues might come to light that make it less possible that you were the culprit.

An admission of guilt may be harmful in a court case, if there is one. Don’t negotiate with the other driver, because if the accident turns out to be more serious than it appears, or if fraud is involved, you’ll be in a difficult situation. Let professionals handle the details, and be patient. Call in the police so there’s a record. Protect yourself.

Another Driver’s Insurance Company Calls You First.

If at all possible, be the one to take action immediately. Call your insurance agent and explain the facts, then call the other person’s insurance first and file a claim with them. if you allow the other person to take control, you may get a settlement offer that doesn’t cover all your needs.

Do not discuss the accident with the other party’s insurance agent until you have talked to yours. Get an estimate on fixing your car, find out how much your medical bills will cost, and then let them negotiate.

You Start to Feel Pain or Discomfort in a Part of Your Body Days, Weeks, or Even Months Later

Depending on the type and severity of the injury, you might not feel it right away. This is why it is important to get yourself checked out by a doctor immediately following a car collision. Even if you look and feel fine, you may not experience symptoms until much later. You may not even be able to connect such injuries to the car accident in question if you don’t consult a doctor early on in the process.

It’s never fun to have an accident, and you can’t always know how you’re going to react till you’re in that situation. You also don’t know how the other motorist will act. But you can take steps to protect yourself no matter what happens. Remember that, and you’ll be fine.

What to Do When You’ve Been in a Car Collision

You never expect to be in a car collision, but if it happens, you’ll likely be shaky and not thinking straight. Take a deep breath, then follow these steps to make sure you’ve covered all your bases.

First, Stop & Make Sure Everyone’s Okay.

Stop, if you’re still moving, and get your vehicle to the side of the road. Check yourself and the other people involved to make sure there are no injuries. If there are, you should call 911 right away. Even if there aren’t, stay alert to your condition, because symptoms of both physical injuries and shock or PTSD may not show up immediately. When you leave the car, do not get in the way of traffic or stand between cars that are still on the road, even if they’re stopped.

Call the Police

Bring in law enforcement. Regardless of how bad the accident is, bringing in the police will ensure that there’s a record of the incident. This may be important later to yourself, your insurance, or court proceedings (if things go that far). Also, some insurance policies say that police must be contacted within a certain time frame for hit-and- run incidents. If officers aren’t able to come to the scene, file an incident report at a station later.

Check for Car Damage, and Document

As long as you know you’re in a safe place, make a careful and thorough inspection to determine what kind of damage your car has experienced. It may be hard to take in details if you’re rattled, but do your best. Write it down or record it with your camera.

Share Your Information

Exchange your identification and insurance information with both the other party and police. This is an important part of the process, so don’t try to avoid it, even if there are injuries and confusion involved and no visible car damage. There may be hidden issues that crop up later. Do not take blame at the scene, because additional information may change perceptions.

Get Transportation

In some cases, your car will be drivable. In others, you may need anything from flat tires repaired or airbags reset to major bodywork and auto glass repair. If you can’t drive your car, or if you feel that your mindset is not conducive to driving, call a tow truck or automobile club for help. If you need to, set up a breakdown site with emergency cones and hazard lights on.

Contact Your Insurance Agent

Now that the on-the-scene matters have been taken care of, contact your insurance representative. Most policies require you file a claim within a certain time limit. Know your coverage, and your responsibilities. Your insurance agent can guide you through all this.

Find an Auto Body Shop & Get Your Car Fixed as Soon as Possible

You may be tempted to leave your car as-is, if it’s drivable. Don’t wait, however. Not only could it be dangerous if there is unseen damage, you could be exacerbating a problem by creating additional stress in damaged areas. Do your research, and find an auto body shop that you’re comfortable with. You don’t have to go with the insurance company’s recommendation. But you do need to be safe when you’re driving, so move forward with auto collision repairs in a timely fashion.

Hopefully, you’ll never experience a car collision. If you do, however, follow these instructions and you won’t be blindsided by the aftermath of this type of accident.

Don't Wait: Auto Body Damage Grows Over Time

You’ve been in an accident and sustained body damage that is mostly cosmetic. Now what?

If your car is drivable, you may be tempted to forget about it until your financial situation is better.

Or maybe you’re wondering if you can simply take the insurance money and save the repairs for a later date.

However, there are disadvantages to both of these actions, and we recommend that you fix your car immediately.

 

Safety Comes First

Safety is probably the main concern here. The damage your car has suffered might not look that bad, but you don’t know for sure what’s happening under the hood. Your car might have suffered injury to the brakes or tires or engine that you can’t see. In this situation, a problem might manifest at any time while you’re on the road, making your chances of having another accident higher. And even if you aren’t hurt, which we hope is the case, you might still be inconvenienced in other ways.

If you continue to drive a car that hasn’t been looked at and fixed, you may also be exacerbating the problem. If there’s a mechanical issue, waiting to fix your car can make the problem worse. Your $100 problem might become a $1000 one instead. You’re driving a potentially unsafe car, and that’s not cool.

It’s Financially a Good Idea

Maybe it doesn’t feel like a better idea to fix your car right away. We get it; your money has about 50 other places to go. But think about this. If you’ve received money from your insurance company to pay for repairs, and you don’t have them done, you’ll see consequences.

For one thing, if you get in another accident, your insurance company will deduct for pre-existing damage in that future settlement. It won’t pay for the same accident twice. Also, in that case, you’ll have to prove that the damage occurred due to the accident. So, let’s say you got into an accident that messed up your front wheel assembly. Instead of using your insurance money to get collision repairs, you continued to drive your car. In doing so, you ruin the entire front end of your car. Good luck getting your insurance company to cover the additional repairs!

It’s The Smart Thing to Do

This is a decision that can cause definite problems later on. Don’t forget, not all damage isn’t going to be visible immediately. When you bring your car in for repairs, your Atlanta body shop mechanic may very well find additional problems that need fixing.

If that’s the case, and you’ve have the work done promptly, your insurance company may have no problem paying for extra repairs. On the other hand, if you don’t take your car in until months or years later, you’re giving the insurance company an opportunity to doubt that the original accident had anything to do with your problems.

Do the right thing, and don’t wait to get your vehicle repaired. In the long term, you’re taking the best action for you, your family, and your vehicle.

How to Avoid Aftermarket Body Parts

Following a collision, your car may need replacement parts in order to be restored by an auto body shop to working order. If your car is relatively new, you'll want OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts. This is because OEM parts, made by the original manufacturer or a subcontractor, are designed to work in your vehicle. They will work exactly as well as the part being replaced, and are often warrantied. Aftermarket parts are not made by the car's manufacturer or its subcontractors, so quality is variable at best. But how can you make sure you get the OEM parts?

Don't Go By Price Alone 

When choosing the auto body shop to repair damage to your vehicle, you may be tempted to simply choose the company that can fix your car for the least amount of money. However, don't make this your only criteria. The cheapest estimates are sometimes so cheap because shops don't use quality parts or they have ways of getting around the regular expenses of buying OEM parts. In choosing an auto body shop, going with company that you can trust - one that has good word-of-mouth and that has been in service for a long time - can be infinitely better than depending on the projected amount of the bill. See how D&I autobody shop makes sure to quote you fair, competitve rates to assure you are satisfied with their services.

Ask Questions About Your Estimate 

In most states, repair facilities are required by law to disclose in their estimates that they will use aftermarket parts. If that is not true of your state, you should ask questions and make sure you are satisfied with the answers. Find out exactly what parts will be used, if they are new or used, and if the parts have been previously repaired. Also, be alert for the terminology that the body shop uses. For example, aftermarket parts can also be "imitation," "third party," or "white box" brands.

 

Advocate For Yourself 

Most importantly, make sure to use your own judgment and don't get sidetracked by a body shop's promises that you'll pay reduced rates, get guaranteed insurance coverage, or save your deductible. This usually means that they have other ways of cutting costs. Don't stick to auto body shops "preferred" by your insurance company, because these two often work out deals that result in corner-cutting for consumers. Use the same strategies you would use in choosing any business over another, and don't let your lack of knowledge make you easily manipulated. You may not always need OEM parts, but the ones provided by the manufacturer or a licensed agent may be the most dependable and long-lasting regardless of the age and condition of the vehicle. Protect yourself and make sure you know how to get what you want. D&I Auto Body has a variety of services ranging from paint touch-ups to full body repair. Check out their services and rest assured that they will ethically take care of all your restorative needs.


More about D&I Body Shop, Inc.
1779 Marietta Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 885-9575
www.dandibodyshopandglass.com