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Darn! In A Fender Bender? Do This!
- Get safe first! Get the vehicles and yourselves off the road and out of traffic.
- Call the police. In the case of a fender bender, most police departments will ask you and the other person to come to the station to make a police report. Always retain a copy of the police report, as you will need it should you choose to make a claim.
- Get any witness information from people who saw what happened. Get witness names and phone numbers.
- Get the other driver’s insurance company information, including their name, address, phone number, insurance company, and policy number.
- Take photos or video if you have your SmartPhone. You can take photos of the vehicle damage and the scene (such as skid marks on the roadway or dents on a stop sign post, etc.). Photos help your insurance company.
- Throughout all of the preceding steps, don’t admit blame or assign blame. Stay calm and collected and treat the incident like a reporter would, sticking just to the facts. If the police come to the scene to take information, or if you’re providing details over the phone, state the facts as you experienced them, and allow the other person to do the same. Witnesses can provide additional facts that may be used to determine who is responsible.
- Safely stash all notes and documentation! Don’t lose your notes or your copy of the accident report.
- Think before you make a claim. If the damage is very minor—a few scratches and small dents—it may make more sense to just pay for minor repairs than it would be to risk your insurance premium going up in the future due to this accident. If it’s the other person’s car that’s dented or scratched, see if they’ll allow you to pay for the damages directly. If you decide to make a claim, call your insurance company’s claim hotline. Follow the claim center’s instructions if you choose to make a claim.
Did You Know
You can choose to not make a claim? You may be thinking, “Wait! I pay for that auto coverage every year. Why shouldn’t I USE it when I need it?” Be aware that many insurance companies will raise your premiums if you are involved in even a minor crash. Remember, their job is to figure out your exposure and how big of a risk you are. When you make a claim, you’re saying, “Hey, I’m a risk.” The repair cost may be less than your deductible amount anyway, in which case risking higher premiums makes little sense!
