No matter how experienced you are as a driver, there may come a time when a distraction of a fraction of a second, or plain dumb luck will coincide to put you right in the middle of a car accident. With the sci-fi like advances in automotive systems today, drivers and passengers are more or less assured that there is a very high possibility of walking away from a major crash. However, this cannot be said of the vehicles they will have been travelling in, which is why the collision repair business has boomed.
In the moments immediately after an accident, you will of course need to check that all occupants of the vehicle are ok. Then, you need to check that your vehicle is not in a position that will cause another collision. Warning triangles are the next best thing if you cannot move your vehicle. After that, the process of preparing your car for visiting a collision repair shop actually begins. This means obtaining the addresses, contact information, driver's license and insurance details of the people involved in the accident. Police and witness information are also important in case the insurance company needs to ask questions from them. You need to make sure that an accident report is filed so that the insurance claim moves forward as quickly as possible. With the advent of cameras in every cellphone, it's a simple matter to record the scene of the accident for insurance and police purposes. Take pictures not just of the damage to the car but of the surrounding area so a reconstruction can easily be performed if necessary. Remember that when taking pictures of vehicular damage, take pictures of other vehicles involved in the collision too. Pictures of your car's wrecked areas and how they were caused by other vehicles can give the collision repair shop a better idea of how to inspect your car for hidden damage. It's in the shop's best interest to get the repairs on your car right the first time so that they don't get affected by warranty claims.
Insurance companies have accredited collision repair shops. If they can coordinate a tow service from the scene of the accident, it will save you time and effort by not having your vehicle towed to a temporary depot. Getting into an accident is never a pleasant experience. But having the presence of mind to involve your insurance company right from the start goes a long way toward having your car back on the road as soon as possible.
