So, you’ve been involved in an accident? It happens. It’s unpleasant, but it does happen. The best thing to do is to keep a clear head about things if you can. It’s best to get checked out by a medical professional if that accident caused the airbag to deploy, so the first thing to do is to call 911 from your location in the Bloomington, Indianapolis, Fishers, or Plainfield areas.
Next, you’re going to want to collect some information from the person that hit you or the person you hit, right away. It is important to never apologize to the other driver as this can be determined as accepting fault and you want to avoid that. However, you’ll need a fair amount of information from the other driver, so it’s best to be polite.
What to Collect
- Driver’s Name – You’ll need to get their name as it appears on their driver’s license, registration, and insurance card. If these differ at all, write down every name you see. Sometimes, a husband may be driving a vehicle that is registered to his wife, a child to their parent, or any variation in between. Copy down every name and for safety purposes, write down a driver’s license number.
- Driver’s Personal Information – You’ll need a mailing address and phone number for the person with which you were involved in the collision. If their mailing address differs from where they live, be sure to jot that address down as well. Your insurance company may need this information in the future. If they have more than one phone number, collect them all.
- Driver’s Vehicle Information – Copy down the make and model of the vehicle involved and state the color. You’ll also want to make sure you write down the license plate number. While you’re collecting this information, you may also want to take note of the damage or take a couple of photos with your phone.
- Driver’s Insurance Information – This information is going to be very important, especially if you were not at fault for the accident, so you’ll want to be as thorough as possible. Not only do you want to get the name of the insurance company, but also the phone number at which they can be reached. While you have their insurance card, make sure you also write down the name of the insured, the policy number, and the expiration date of that policy.
When you’re involved in a car accident, your first call should always be to the police. They will be able to help get information from a non-compliant or unresponsive driver and your insurance company will need a copy of the police report for their claim purposes. While it may just be a small fender-bender, don’t hesitate to contact the authorities.
We Can Handle Your Service
Whether you sustained only small dents or some minor damage to your paint or if you’re going to need extensive repairs, we’re here to help in four convenient locations: Bloomington, Indianapolis, Plainfield, and Fishers. At Andy Mohr Collision Center, all of our service technicians are ASE-certified to ensure that your car is returned to its prior condition, no matter how serious the accident. Contact us if you need a tow from the accident location. We’ll be happy to help.
