There are many events to prepare for when you start driving for the first time. Just learning how to find your way out of being lost (even if it is easier with modern smartphones) is a skill that new drivers have to learn, for instance.
While it’s never nice to think about, preparing for car accidents, whether minor or severe, is also worthwhile. That’s because provided you come away unharmed or can heal (and we absolutely wish you the best fortune in this case), you may still need to deal with administrative measures after the fact, provided you’re capable of doing so.
Of course, safety comes first, but from there, efforts such as filing reports to arranging car repairs can make all the difference in how smoothly your financial and roadworthy recovery goes. Put simply, knowing what steps to take and which documents to manage can ease a lot of stress in these situations. So let’s give you a basic practical guide to follow. We hope it helps:
After Medical Care, Reporting The Incident
After an accident, and if you don’t require medical care which is much more important, immediately reporting the event is essential, both to your insurance company and, in many cases, to local authorities. Always choose the latter first though.
Taking pictures, keeping any documentation you have on hand, taking information from the opposing party, and notifying your insurer early can really help to streamline the claims process and ensure that they’re aware of your situation from the start. Usually, insurers prefer receiving a call or online notification within 24 hours, as this helps them document the details and begin assessing your claim ASAP.
Depending on where you are, reporting the accident to the police may be legally required, especially if there were injuries or expensive property damage. A police report offers an official record of what happened and often includes witness statements and any immediate observations from law enforcement. Depending where you live the terminology may be different, but the practice is largely the same.
You’ll Need To Collate Your Documentation
Start by collecting all documents related to the accident, including the police report, contact details of those involved, and photos of the scene and any damage. If you can, put this all in one cloud folder so you have access to it, or can share it, easily.
If there are medical reports, such as for any injuries you encountered, keep those records as well. While it may seem excessive to organize all these files, having a clear record of every detail can save you headaches later on if questions or disagreemnets arise and you need to escalate the issue (such as an opposing solicitor downplaying your injury).
Working With Your Insurance Company
Some people view insurance companies are hard to trust, becaue of course, if they can get out of paying you they will try to do that. However, it’s also true that when the claim is valid, they tend to be pretty accepting and efficient.
We know about accident insurance and the various tiers of that, such as providing you with a replacement car while yours is fixed, but there are other measures too. For instance, impounded car insurance can help you if your car is taken by the police for inspections.
Just keep in mind that you may need to submit receipts for medical bills or vehicle repairs, so knowing exactly what your insurance provider needs from you can streamline the process. Keep communication clear and be responsive. If you’re working with a solicitor, make sure to funnel all that communication through them, or at least make them aware of the context.
Car Repairs
Depending on the scull scope of the damage you’ve been through, you’ll likely need to arrange for your car to be repaired. Many insurance companies have a list of authorized repair shops they work with, and using one of these providers can sometimes simplify the process, as it helps you gain a quicker approval for repair estimates. That being said, if you prefer a specific mechanic or repair shop, you can usually work with them too – just confirm with your insurer that they’ll cover it and get the full quote up front.
Potential Legal Issues
Sometimes, the impact of an accident can last much longer than you’re really that willing to deal with it, especially those involving serious injuries or disputes about who was at fault, you may find yourself needing legal coverage.
Hiring a solicitor outright that has experience in personal injury or accident claims can help you better understand this aspect of the process, especially if you’re struggling to receive fair compensation or you’ve been threatened with a letter.
Sometimes this can pay for itself, because legal representation can help you understand what compensation may be available to you, including medical costs to lost wages if you’re unable to work. While no one wants to involve the courts, knowing you have legal protection or that someone is on your side can help you keep this matter from teh constant forefront of your mind.
Focus On Your Mental Health & Recovery
Dealing with the aftermath of an issue isn’t just about paperwork and repairs and all the admin stuff we’ve gone through here, but it can be emotionally draining, too. You may need some time to process the experience, especially if it was traumatic, which is an important part of moving forward. For some people that might look like regular conversations with a mental health practitioner or counselor.
That’s because an accident can be a very scary experience. Forget the car, seeing yourself hurt or hurting another person can have long impacts on your wellbeing and confidence, even after everyone’s physically recovered. So don’t dismiss yourself if you’re at all worried about the experience you’ve had.
With this advice, we hope you can manage the admin measures even after a tough car accident. It’ll take some time, but you’ll put this behind you sooner than you know.