What to Do After a Car Accident

Even if you’re a careful driver, accidents happen. In the aftermath of a car accident, you might feel shocked, confused, or scared. That’s why the first thing you should do is take a deep breath and take inventory of the situation. The stress of an accident doesn’t stop there, but calming yourself down will help you shift your focus toward what needs to be done after a car accident.

Immediate Steps

Your first concern is the physical health and safety of the parties involved. If at all possible, remain at the scene of an accident and take these immediate steps:

Step 1. Assess injuries: After the accident, check yourself and others involved for any injuries. Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured.

Step 2. Get to safety: If your vehicle is drivable, carefully move it to the shoulder or other safe place off the main road. Otherwise, leave it where it is and get yourself to safety.

Step 3. Call the police: For non-injury accidents, the police may not come to the scene, but it’s always best to call and report the incident. When you’re ready to file your claim, a police report can provide important details to your insurance company.

It’s beneficial to have law enforcement there as they can help document the details of the accident, or provide assistance if you’re unable to move your car safely off the road or the damage is severe.

Step 4. Gather information: Get contact details for everyone involved in the accident and any nearby witnesses. This should include:

• Names
• Phone numbers
• Addresses
• Insurance details
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• License plate number
• Photos of the cars (before they’re moved), damages, and location

It’s always smart to carry a pen and notepad in your glovebox to document important details about the accident. But if it's safe to do so, you should also use your cellphone to take pictures of the accident scene, your vehicle, and any injuries sustained. You'll also want to take photos of the insurance cards, driver's licenses, and license plates of the other parties involved.

If the other driver tells you they don’t have insurance, still focus on getting their contact and vehicle information. For example, if they borrowed the car, the vehicle owner may have insurance. The key is to get as much information as possible. Wawanesa can help determine if the other party involved has insurance and if you carry uninsured motorist coverage that can assist.

Important: Do not admit fault when exchanging information with the other driver or completing a police report, even if you believe you were responsible. Leave it up to the claims professionals to determine who is at fault during the claims process.

Step 5. Contact your insurance company: Contact your insurance provider as soon as you can do so safely — ideally while you’re still at the scene of the accident. You can call the claims department while you wait for the police to arrive, or after they’ve left.

In the aftermath of an accident, it's easy to forget that you have roadside assistance coverage. If your car is not drivable, your insurance company can help arrange for a towing service and, depending on your coverage, may even cover a rental car.

Hit and runs: Any accident or loss that involves a hit and run or an unidentifiable driver must be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours of the incident. You have ten days to report the accident to your insurance company.

Step 6. Notify the DMV (if needed): Some states require you to notify the DMV of an accident, regardless of who was at fault. You'll find more information about a state’s reporting requirements on their DMV’s webpage or by asking your insurance company when you report the claim.

How to File a Claim

What happens after a car accident depends on several factors, but a typical claims process looks like this:

Step 1. Consolidate your information: When you’re ready to file a claim, gather the necessary information, including the details you collected from the other driver(s) and any witnesses, and the police report number if you made a report.

Step 2. Open your claim: Your insurance provider will walk you through the claim process. Be ready to provide details about the accident, including the time, place, date, and any photos taken at the scene. If there’s a dispute between the two parties over who was at fault, you should expect to get a call from the other driver’s insurance company looking for your version of events.

Step 3. Speak with your claims adjuster: After your insurance company opens your claim, you’ll be assigned an adjuster. They will contact you to obtain the details of the accident. They will determine which coverages can provide you benefits, explain how they work and whether any deductibles apply. Your adjuster will also investigate who is at fault for the accident.

If you have the applicable coverage, they’ll help set up an inspection for your vehicle so that the damage can be assessed. This is typically done by having the vehicle inspected at a body shop, or by having an appraiser come out to the vehicle location.

Step 4: Repairs and claim payment: Once your vehicle has been inspected, you’ll receive a copy of the repair estimate. Your repair estimate will typically outline all the work to be done and what kind of parts will be used to make the repairs. Your insurance company may be able to recommend a shop that can complete the repairs, or you can use a repair facility of your choice.

If the shop finds any additional damage or the prices change on some of the parts, they’ll contact your adjuster or appraiser to discuss a supplemental estimate.

If You Have Problems with a Claim

Your claims adjuster is there to assist you in the claim-handling process. If for any reason you have difficulties communicating with them, or you don't understand something about the process, contact your insurance company and ask to speak with someone to resolve any disputes, disagreements, or confusion. It’s important to be informed throughout the claim process.

Claims FAQs

Am I covered for a rental car?

If you carry Rental Expense as a selected coverage option, it provides payment or reimbursement for rental charges for a comparable temporary substitute vehicle or costs associated with temporary transportation.

If your insured vehicle is no longer drivable due to an accident covered under Comprehensive Coverage or Collision Coverage, or when your insured vehicle is left at a licensed auto repair shop for agreed repairs, this coverage will provide payment up to the selected limit of coverage.

The vehicle must be rented from a licensed auto rental agency or licensed auto repair shop. Temporary transportation costs might include public buses or trains, a ride service like Uber or Lyft, or a personal vehicle-sharing service.

You'll need to provide written verifiable proof of the rental charges or transportation costs incurred for reimbursement within thirty (30) days after the charge is incurred. Rental Expense coverage does not apply to recreational rentals or business rentals.

How long will it take to get my car fixed?

When it comes to vehicle repairs, you have the right to choose any repair facility of your choice. We also offer a network of preferred repair facilities that can handle the estimate and repair of your vehicle, for most claims, if coverage is extended.

Our preferred repair facilities also provide you with a lifetime workmanship guarantee on the claim-related repairs they complete for as long as you own the vehicle. However, the timing of the repairs all depends on the amount of damage and the length of time taken to obtain the necessary parts.

Can I take the money instead of getting my car fixed?

We do not recommend accepting a cash payment instead of getting the repair work done at a reputable repair shop.

Will my insurance go up after an accident?

Filing a claim will not impact the premium in your current policy term but could affect the premium in future policy terms. This will depend on the nature of the claim and the cost to settle the claim.

An accident that was not at fault, or a comprehensive claim will not impact your premium. An at-fault accident where the damage amount exceeds $1,000 could impact your next renewal premium.

Have more questions about what happens after a car accident, or how to file an insurance claim? Contact Wawanesa to speak with an insurance professional who can walk you through all the details. If you want to make sure you're properly protected in the event of an accident, get a free quote today to see how we can help.