Unexpected car accident can occur at any time and place, even if we’re being cautious on the road. Take, for example, when the car behind you rear-ends your car. These kinds of accidents happen quite frequently, especially in busy traffic, leaving both parties shocked and unsure of the next steps to take.
In this article, we’ll guide you on what to do if your vehicle gets rear-ended. Some may think such accidents are minor and easily resolved, but if not handled correctly, both parties could end up with losses like overpaying for compensation (the one at fault) or receiving insufficient funds for repairs (the victim).
Turn on the emergency lights
When an accident occurs, remember to switch on your hazard lights right away (especially at night) to alert other drivers that something is wrong with your car.
Identify the surrounding situation
Take a quick look around. If there’s an accident on the highway, quickly move your vehicle to the emergency lane to prevent things from getting worse. Similarly, if you’re caught in a traffic jam and an accident happens, use your signals and move your car to the side of the road to prevent more traffic congestion and inconvenience for other drivers.
Take the information of the car that hit you
Quickly jot down the license plate number and road tax details of the vehicle that caused the trouble, so you can make an insurance claim against them. Request permission to snap a photo of the person’s ID who rear-ended your car.
Don’t forget to take pictures of the damage to both your car and theirs. These steps will make the insurance claim process smoother and more straightforward. Also take the driver’s phone number to make it easier for you to contact them later.
Make a police report
Engage in a constructive conversation with the person who rear-ended you car. Stay calm and aim to resolve the issue amicably. Kindly encourage them to accompany you in filing a police report to address the situation.
Also remember that you should report it to the police within 24 hours of the accident, even if they offer compensation. Why is this necessary? Well, there have been cases where the person who caused the harm suddenly contacts the police and falsely claims that they were the victim and you were the one at fault.
By filing a police report, you can ensure that the truth is on your side and protect yourself from false accusations.
Make insurance claim
If someone else is to blame for the accident, you can make a claim against them, which is called a third-party claim. You don’t have to use your own insurance if it’s clear that you’re not at fault. Make sure to provide all the details of the incident to your insurance company so that they can process the claim against the responsible party.
Repair your car
Don’t wait any longer, take your vehicle to a trusted auto insurance company’s authorized repair shop to fix the damage. Request them to handle a third-party claim for the repairs needed on your car.
It’s common for accidents like this to occur anywhere, and anyone can be involved. If it happens to you, remember to stay calm and avoid panicking so you can handle the situation effectively. Just follow the steps mentioned above to ensure you don’t overlook any important details.
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