Continuing her series, “Turn Four of Life’s Lemons into Lemonade” writer Kara Masterson addresses the lemon of a car crash.
The Car Crash Lemon: Making the Most of a Car Accident
Getting involved in a car crash can be a frightening and disorienting experience. Even if you avoid serious injury, it can still be a major shake up with some minor physical damage, to both you and your vehicle.
In the aftermath, it’s crucial you take the steps necessary to recover properly. Here are four tips for making the most of an automotive accident.
Make Sure Everyone Is Okay
No matter what, the first thing you should do after an accident is to make sure everyone involved is okay, from yourself, your passengers and those in the other car (or cars) involved in the accident.
Even if no one is apparently injured, you should still call for medical attention. There’s always a chance the crash impact might be worse than was initially realized.
Exchange Insurance Information
To make sure you and the other driver are able to receive the proper compensation, you should immediately exchange insurance and contact information. If the police is present make sure you get a copy of their accident report because it will indicate who was at fault.
Depending on when the police arrive, witnesses to the accident can also be helpful in determining whose was at fault. Be sure to get the contact information for the witnesses.
Next you should file an insurance report. If the other driver has no insurance or their policy has expired, you might have to bring them to court.
In that case, you’ll need to hire a qualified insurance attorney.
Repair Your Vehicle
Your car might be out of commission for some time depending on the accident’s severity. You’ll want to get your car into a repair shop as soon as possible.
They’ll give you an estimate regarding the extent of the damage. It will be helpful if you have a trusted relationship with a repair shop to make sure you receive a fair estimate.
In the absence of relationship you should call on other mechanics to allow you to evaluate mulitiple repair estimates. Remember you should always go for the best reputation rather than the cheapest estimate.
Make Sure You’re Properly Compensated
If you’re involved in a collision with a commercial vehicle, such as a semi-truck, you need to make sure the company properly compensates you (if you’re not at fault). Work with an attorney like the Kenneth J. Allen Law Group or someone similar.
You should try to find someone who has filed similar suits in the past if you can. We hope this has given you a great idea of how to make the most of an automotive accident.
It can certainly be a harrowing experience. With these tips, however, you can successfully deal with the aftermath.
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