With the extreme weather that March has brought to Northwest Ohio, it may be time to refresh our memory on what to do in case of an auto accident. While items like jumper cables and a flashlight should always be stored in the trunk of your vehicle, your insurance card is one tool that will be important when it comes to any run-in or accident. In the unfortunate event of an accident keep in mind the acronym of SAFE – Safety first, Alert authorities, Fact collection, Exchange information.
First, if able, move your vehicle to a position where you are out of the way of traffic and contact the police. While waiting, jot down a few notes so that you can relay the facts to the police and your insurance company. Make sure to include facts such as what part of your car hit what part of their car, the make and model of their car and who had the right of way. Gather any witness contact information to pass along to police and insurance, then once the police arrive calmly walk through the scenario. Exchanging information with the other car is important so you can file a claim in a timely fashion.
Once you are able, contacting your insurance company to inform them of the incident is essential. Your claim may be handled completely over the phone or you may have a claims adjuster assigned to you who will need to view the damage in person. Martin & Martin helps by providing ID cases for your insurance card so that it can be handy and visible in your glove box. Staying safe is ideal but when life happens it helps to be prepared and informed in order to minimize the stress and worry of an accident.