What to Do After a Car Accident

Accidents happen. If they were on purpose, of course, they’d be called deliberates. Pardon our bad joke. The point is, car accidents are never planned, and that can make them stressful and disorienting, especially with the financial losses and health and safety hazards posed by them. So, here’s some information on what to do after a car accident — including how to work through the process of filing a car accident claim. We hope that if you’ve recently been involved in a motor vehicle collision in your Honda, this guide can restore some normalcy. Looking to learn more? At any point in time, just call 701-852-1111 or contact us online.

What to Do After a Car Accident 

Minor Accidents

From parking lot oopsies to minor fender benders, there are many types of minor accidents, all alike in indignity. Nevertheless, they must be dealt with. Here’s what to do if you’ve recently been involved in a minor car accident near Bismarck or Devils Lake:

1. First and most important, check to see if you or your passengers require immediate medical attention. If so, call an ambulance ASAP.
2. If you’re in stable condition, pull your vehicle over to a safe spot but do not drive too far away from the scene. Take pictures before moving if it’s safe. Then, move to avoid blocking traffic if safe. 
3. Call the police. The other party in the motor vehicle collision may try to convince you not to go through the police. While in some minor instances, dealing with the issue, when legal, without calling the police can be beneficial toward not raising your insurance rates, generally, this is a bad idea. Calling the cops ensures that there’s a filed record of the event so you can recoup any losses necessary and hold the other party(ies) accountable for their part in the collison. 
4. Exchange contact information. Exchange phone numbers, email addresses, and the insurance policy information of the other driver(s) involved. It’s also important to get a photo of everyone’s driver’s licenses, license plate numbers, and insurance cards. If there were any witnesses to the accident, you should also ask for their contact information.
5. Document your vehicle’s damage. Take detailed pictures of the accident scene and damage to each vehicle from multiple angles and distances, as time and safety permit.
6. Call your insurance provider. The sooner you tell them the details of the accident, the sooner the claims process can begin.

Major Accidents

With major accidents, there’s an added emphasis on ensuring the safety of everyone. Here are some tips to follow after a major car accident in Bottineau or nearby:

1. Call 911 right away. If you’re seriously injured, you should alert emergency personnel or have someone call on your behalf right away. The police should come along with an ambulance to assess the scene and damage. 
2. Contact your insurance company. Even if someone already filed the claim on your behalf while you were incapacitated and receiving medical attention, you should follow up with your insurance provider as soon as possible. You’ll need to provide them with more information about the accident to ensure everyone is properly compensated.
3. Follow up with your physician. If you’re still feeling any pain after the accident and after being treated by emergency personnel, you should visit your regular doctor for a check-up.

How to File a Car Accident Insurance Claim

Insurance claims and the process of filling them out may differ slightly from insurance company to insurance company. Still, generally speaking, the process of filing a claim requires you to offer up the following information:

• All the collected contact and insurance information from other involved parties
• Name of the police department involved, as well as the police report number (if applicable)
• Your insurance policy number
• Detailed description of how the accident occurred
• Date, time, and location of the accident

From there, you’ll provide any photos to your insurance company and an adjuster will come out to assess any damage.

Ryan Honda of Minot Can Help After an Accident!

We offer a full-service Honda service center and parts center. Whatever issues you may be having with your vehicle after an accident and more, we can help. Get in touch with us today by calling 701-852-1111 and we’ll be glad to assist however we can!