What To Do When You’ve Been In An Auto Accident

Being in an auto accident is a stressful, emotional time but it's important to stay calm and do the right thing. By knowing in advance what to do if you're ever in an auto accident, you'll have the best chance of keeping your wits about you.

As an experienced Elmwood Park auto body repair shop, NJ Auto Body is very familiar with the extensive damage collisions can cause. Our auto accident repairs specialists want to help you be prepared with the following 6 steps to take when you've been in an auto accident.

Pull Over If Possible, Stay At The Scene & Call 911

If your vehicle can be driven after an auto accident, pull it to the side of the road to get it out of the way of moving traffic. If you can't pull your vehicle out of the way, you can enlist the help of on-lookers

No matter how minor the auto accident was, the first thing you should do after getting your car out of harm’s way is to call the police. Call 911 before you try to call the local police or sheriff's office so they can call an officer to the accident scene and an ambulance if anyone's hurt.

Exchange Information For Expedient Accident Repairs

It'll be important to gather the other driver's insurance information to help with your accident repairs. Try to remain calm and make an exchange of your names, addresses, phone numbers, driver's license numbers, and insurance information. The more information you can get from the other driver after an auto accident, the better off you'll be when you need to deal with the insurance company and accident repairs.

Take Pictures Of Your Vehicle Damage

If you have a smartphone, make sure to take pictures of your vehicle damage. Take close up pictures of your vehicle damage as well as the damage to the other vehicles. It'll be important to have proof of the damage in order to deal with the insurance company when getting your accident repairs. Even if there's only a minor dent, your auto body company can fix it with a quick paintless dent removal process.

Call Your Auto Insurance Company

Once you've exchanged information with the other driver, given your statement to the police, and taken pictures of the accident scene, it's time to call your auto insurance company. They can help you get your car towed to an auto body shop in the local area who's certified to do accident repairs and factory restorations.

Find Your Own Auto Body Shop For Accident Repairs

You always have a choice where to take your vehicle for accident repairs, you don't have to use the shop your insurance company recommends. Just make sure they're an I-Can certified auto body shop who does accident repairs according to factory specifications because they're the only ones who have the technical skill to fully restore your vehicle to factory condition.