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Each year, thousands of Texas vehicle owners are involved in accidents, some of them fender benders, and others that are far more serious. Being prepared to deal with an accident is important, and knowing what to do can save you a lot of hassle with your Texas car insurance company. These tips will help you be prepared no matter what lies ahead on the road.
Being well-prepared for trouble on the road means keeping an emergency kit handy. You should have a cell phone, pen and paper for note-taking, a disposable or digital camera to take pictures of the scene, and a car that has any medical alerts that emergency personnel should be aware of in the event of serious injuries. Keep a list of the numbers for law enforcement agencies (or dial 9-1-1) and your Texas car insurance information, like proof of insurance and policy numbers. Your kit should also have a flashlight and the documentation instructions from your Texas car insurance company.
If the accident is a minor one, and there are no serious injuries, it is always best to move cars that can still be driven off of the roadway in order to keep them out of the way of oncoming traffic. Many accidents are actually secondary accidents that are caused when other drivers “happen” upon an accident that has already occurred. Turn on your hazard lights or “blinkers” and ask any other vehicles that are involved in the accident to do so as well.
Once everyone is safe and any operable vehicles have been moved out of the way of traffic, you should exchange information with others that were involved in the accident. Be sure to get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the other driver(s), and the insurance company, policy number, driver’s license number and license plate number of the other vehicles involved. If the driver’s name is different from that which is listed on the insurance information, find out how the person is related to the owner of the vehicle and make notes of that. Write down a description of the vehicles involved, including the make, year, model and color, and the exact location that the accident occurred. Never admit fault for the accident, even to the police or other drivers involved. Be sure to give your Texas car insurance information to the other drivers as well, along with your contact information.
Using your camera, make a full documentation of the scene and the visible automobile damage to your vehicle and to the other vehicles involved for your records, even if the accident was not your fault. This will be helpful when dealing with the claims adjuster. Be sure to get the names and contact information of any witnesses that saw the accident occur.
You should contact your Texas car insurance company right away to report the accident and file a claim. Most companies will ask for a police report. Find out what your Texas car insurance policy covers, and whether you can get reimbursed for a rental car or if they will cover the expense up front, if your car is totaled.
While being in an accident is certainly no fun, being prepared for the possibility will make it easier to get your claim settled and move on with your life.
