It’s a good thing car insurance is so cheap these days. You are going to need it after you have damaged your car, and if you don’t have car insurance then you will end up paying for the repairs out of pocket. It can be hard to figure out what steps to take right after damaging your car, so we’ve compiled a list of important things that you should do in order to get back on the road as quickly as possible!
Get the car towed or driven to an auto body shop
When you have damaged your car, you want to take care of it as quickly as possible.
First and foremost, make sure that the vehicle is safe before driving it anywhere. If there are fluids leaking then turn off the car or move away from any potential hazards (i.e., near a gas station). Once everything has been assessed and deemed safe to drive, you can then find a car repair shop.
If the car is still drivable, then carefully maneuver your car to an auto body shop for repairs. If not, tow it there. Once at the store or garage (depending on who towed your car), make sure someone drives it into the parking lot so they know where it’s supposed to go if needed later!
Assess the damages
Assessing the damages in car accidents is important because it helps you determine the cost of repairs. Start by looking for damage to your car’s body, headlight, and taillights, tires, wheels, or anything else that sticks out from the car frame.
If you don’t feel like you can make the right assessment you can hire professionals to do it for you. In places like DingGo, you can get a car damage estimate, and with that, you can plan your next steps. It is important to have a correct appraisal in order to get car repairs and insurance claims.
Once you have determined what needs fixing on your own car (or assessing if there are any other damages), take pictures of everything so you can compare them later against before shots as evidence in case anything goes wrong with a repair payment.
Check on the well-being of your passengers
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is injured, call an ambulance or go to the hospital. If you are unable to do so, call 911 and explain that you need help with car accident injuries.
If your car was hit from behind and the airbag deployed, make sure no one was in front of it before checking for any injuries on passengers seated around the dashboard.
A side-impact collision injury can be more serious because those types of crashes are often much faster than rear-end collisions. In these cases, seatbelts will not protect back seats as well due to intruding car parts into them like doors or frame rails which means they could fly forward hitting other passengers in their own seat.
Do not move the person if they have an injury to their neck or head as this could cause permanent damage. Try to keep them calm by reassuring them everything will be okay while waiting on medical attention to arrive.
If possible, move your car off the roadway and out of traffic lanes
A car should never be left on the road for extended periods of time and you will want to move your car if at all possible. If there are too many cars, call a tow truck as soon as possible so they can remove your car from the roadway safely so that it is not in traffic lanes or blocking other drivers.
Call your insurance company to file a claim
Insurance providers will want to hear your insurance information, so make sure you have it on hand before calling. You’ll also need to obtain a police report if the damage was caused by vandalism or theft.
They will also want to know the circumstances of your car damage, and they’ll also need to approve a repair estimate. You may have insurance coverage that includes collision insurance or comprehensive insurance, which pays for damages incurred in an accident with another vehicle.
If you don’t have this insurance on your policy, it’s worth considering adding it after the incident because you might not be offered a fair price if these types of incidents happen often.
Take pictures of the damage for documentation purposes
Taking photos of the car before and after the damage is one of the most important steps to take when you have damaged your car. When pictures are taken, it can help make a case for insurance claims or provide documentation of the damage that was done if there is disagreement over who caused it.
You should:
- Take as many photos as possible from different angles so accidents may be shown in detail by using 360-degree views.
- Take close-up shots that will show any small dents or scratches on car parts such as headlights and tires which might not otherwise be seen without taking them apart.
- Make sure all relevant information about how and where this happened is included in these pictures including weather conditions at the time, road surfaces, etc…
Contact an attorney
Contacting a car accident attorney is the most important thing you can do after car damage. An attorney will help determine if your car repair needs to be taken care of by a body shop or an individual and how much it’s going to cost.
If you believe that the car was damaged due to neglect, then take pictures as evidence before taking any steps towards repairing your car. This could include things like cracking paint on bumpers from parking incidents, tires with dry rot because they were not rotated often enough, or brake pads are worn down due to too many hard stops.
If your car has been damaged, give it careful thought before you make a decision on how to move forward. Remember that there are many options available and no one way is right for everyone.
Just keep in mind that a car is an investment, and it’s important to take care of your investments. We hope these tips help you avoid some common mistakes that can lead to costly repairs in the future. If not already done, now may be a good time to get comprehensive auto insurance coverage for your vehicle so you’re protected against any unforeseen circumstances or accidents.