Although it rhymes, a fender bender is anything but rhythmic. There’s usually thuds and bumps involved followed by scratches and dents. While the damage isn’t severe, there are still important steps you should take after getting into a fender bender or minor collision.
We sat down with members from our claims team to answer some questions about handling the aftermath of a fender bender.
So, you were involved in a fender bender. Now what?
You should do several things after an accident, even if it's just a fender bender.
Move to a safe location and check for injuries.
When you're in a safe location, ensure no one involved in the accident is hurt. The physical damage to your car might be minimal, but it’s still a good idea to check for injuries. If you were driving alone, evaluate how you feel. If you had passengers, make sure they are aware of the possibility of minor injuries.
Exchange information with the other driver(s).
Be sure to exchange the following information with the other driver(s) involved in the collision:
Full name
Phone number
Name of their insurance company
License plate number
It is also a good idea to take pictures of the accident to document the damage to the vehicles. Injuries may take some time to show up, and certain types of vehicle damage aren't visible right away. There’s a chance the fender bender could actually be more severe than you thought. Having a record of the accident can help the insurance companies sort out the details and determine who is responsible for paying any claims that are filed.
Call the police and your insurance company.
Call the police to report the accident so there's an official record of the incident. If you need to file a claim, contact your independent agent. During that conversation, provide all information related to the accident such as the date, time, weather conditions, passengers in both vehicles, airbag deployment and points of impact of involved vehicles and any injuries.
Continue reading at Auto-Owners Insurance here.
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