How to Handle a Fender Bender
No motorist likes to think about being involved in a fender bender accident. It can be an emotionally and physically jarring experience. Despite the common nature of fender benders, it may be hard to remember what to do when one happens to you. After all, traffic incidents can be chaotic, stressful, and even scary, even if no one is injured. Fender benders can happen anywhere, meaning that you might be involved in such an incident in a parking lot, on a side street or freeway. Make sure that you know how to handle one, should you ever need to.
Stop. Always stop if you have been hit or hit someone. Pull safely to the side of the road and put on your hazard lights.
Call the police. Filing a police report, no matter how minor the damage, is a must. It can help to solidify the events and speed up the claims process.
Take pictures. Get out your camera (or phone) and take pictures of the scene of the accident, damage to the vehicles, and anything else that may be of significance.
Exchange information. Make sure to take down all the information before leaving. You should exchange the following with the other driver(s):
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Date of birth
- Driver's license number and expiration date
- Insurance company policy numbers and contact information
- License plate number of the other car
- Make, model, and year of the other car
- Contact information of any eyewitnesses
Call your insurance provider. Contact your insurance agency to file the claim. They will be able to assist you from here and help you to make the best decision for the situation.
By following these steps, you can breeze through a fender bender incident. For the
auto insurance you need, talk to the team at Kneller Agency. Serving Hudson, Valatie, Millerton, Red Hook, Millbrook, and neighboring cities, we can help you find reliable car coverage.
