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What to Do if You Are in a Fender Bender NOV

Getting into a car accident like a fender bender can be scary and stressful, but the first thing is to know what to do if it does happen. Read this post by Ace Hi Oil in Southlake for more information.

What is a Fender Bender?

Yearly there are around 5.25 million accidents a year in the United States alone, and even though not all of them are fender benders, many of them are. Fender benders are considered minor car accidents that occur at a low speed. They’re called fender benders because usually, the most affected part of the car is the front or rear fender, and consequently, it’s the part of the car that will need to be repaired. Many situations could cause a fender bender, but the most common ones are being distracted, stopping suddenly, and backing out of a driveway or parking space. Regardless if it was your fault or not, as a driver, it’s essential to know what to do in a situation like this. Keep reading this post to learn how to handle a fender bender.

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Stop and Assess the Damage

After being in a fender bender, the first step you should take is to stop your vehicle and see if you or any of the passengers in your car are hurt. Next, if it’s safe to do so, get out of your vehicle, but if you’re in a road with heavy traffic, it’s best to wait for law enforcement to get to the scene. If you feel safe to get out of your car, assess the damage and the situation, but try to say as little as possible to the other driver.

Call 911

After assessing the damage, it’s time to call 911. Even if no one was hurt, it’s essential to report the crash. In case someone is injured, report that too. Crashes can be contentious, so it’s helpful to have an impartial third party involved. Once the officer gets to the scene, ask for their badge, contact, and accident report numbers. When talking to the police, state only the facts so that the officer can get a clear picture of the accident. Finally, once they’re done, ask them for a copy of the accident report. Reports can take a couple of days to process, but it can be helpful to have when you file a claim with your insurance provider.

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Document Everything

Once you’re out of your car, take pictures of your car’s damage and the other car’s damage as well. Ensure you document the scene and take any notes that could be helpful for the officers to know and for you to file a claim with your insurance. Lastly, take pictures of any witnesses to the crash, as well as the location. Once you’ve documented, the scene it’s safe to move the cars out of the way of traffic.

Exchange Information

Next up, it’s essential to exchange information with the other party involved in the crash. The information you should from the other driver is:

Name
Phone number
Address
Date of birth
Driver's license number and expiration date
Insurance company policy numbers and contact information
The license plate number
A description of the other vehicle

If there are any witnesses to the crash, try to get their information, as it could be helpful when filing a claim. Lastly, write down what the road conditions and weather were like at the time of the accident.

Call Your Insurance Provider

The last step you should follow in case of a fender bender is to call your insurance agent as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter if the accident was your fault or not; your insurance agent should be aware there was an accident. Once you call, the agent will ask you questions about the accident, explain what your policy covers, and tell you what the deductible will look like.