Some helpful tips for those in a car accident...
Oops. You just pulled a Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton (either one) or they hit you and got into an
accident. Now what do you do? Service specialists from Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep provide the following tips on how best
not to look stupid in front of the paparazzi:- Don’t leave the vehicle. Yes, you want to whack the idiot driving a BMW 7-Series who scratched your Maserati Quattroporte, but let the police (and lawyers) handle it.
- Carry a disposable camera to take pictures of the damage (as well as any cute police officers).
- Call a towing service. Preferably, have a number ready in your cell phone, PDA or poorly secured T-Mobile Sidekick.
- Call your insurance company immediately. There is a reason why you’re paying them $2000 a quarter.
- Get estimates on the damage from several repair facilities.
[Source: CarJunky]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gunnar Heinrich 7:41PM (3/23/2006)
Good advice. Though, the idea of taking photos of attractive police officers seems an unlikely idea in the aftermath of an accident.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
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m 7:43PM (3/23/2006)
what if we think or know it's the other drivers fault, should we try to get a police officer to write that in the police report. Do we pursue that avenue later through our insurance company through subrogation...? any thoughts would be appreciated
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Emor8t 7:50PM (3/23/2006)
Keep your mouth shut, no need to possibly change it from thier fault to yours because you said something that would be interpreted differently by a police officer.
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Gary 7:54PM (3/23/2006)
The problem with immediately calling your insurance company? Bam! You now pay $3000 a quarter! (Retroactive to January 2000 for good measure!)
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Joey 10:15PM (3/23/2006)
There are many reasons to hire a personal injury attorney, however liability is usually handled between the 2 insurance companies. Attorneys only concern themselves with the party that is not at fault and is injured (that sometimes includes that friend of yours that is sitting in your passenger seat). They rarely concern themselves with your vehicle.
Also depending on your policy you may or may not have collision coverage. If you do then you can choose a shop in your insurance companies network, get an estimate and check and dont fix your car or go to your own shop of choice and have your insurance company send an auto estimate out there to work with the shop to get your vehicle repaired. There is no need to get estimates from several bodyshops.. all this does is waste your time.
Also keep in mind some tow truck drivers get kick backs from attorneys and body shops to pick up vehicles and drive them directly to a certain tow yard or body shop. So I would be wary of a tow truck driver that just shows up to a collision and starts taking your vehicle somewhere. Granted some police officers will call the tow truck in but make sure you tell the driver where you want to bring your car too. Dont just let them bring it somewhere where he gets a kickback from it and you end up with a very high storage fee.
Your best bet is to call the claims number on the back of your insurance card and explain you need your vehicle towed. Tow coverage under a collision is covered under your collision coverage. That extra coverage for Tow most people get is for non collision tows car wont start.
If you have questions on the claims process contact your claims department (your agent only knows how to sell insurance) if they truly want your business they will take the time to tell you what to do in case of a collision. Plus most mention what to do on your policy (which most ppl dont read)
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m 10:29PM (3/23/2006)
great Comment Post Joey!
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mi 10:48PM (3/23/2006)
Best bet when in an accident. RUN!
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David 11:57PM (3/23/2006)
NEVER admit that it is your fault. best thing to do is keep your mouth shut whether you got hit or you hit them. Don't move the car either! Even if you are in the middle of an intersection. The police need to see EXACTLY where the cars were after the accident. However, some states ask that you move the cars to the side of the road on certain roads/highways/interstates. But you should leave the car there until the police tell you to move it whether from when you called them or when they arrive.
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mi 1:46AM (3/24/2006)
Horrible advice. Sure insurance companies want you to keep the cars in the exact position the accident occured in but maybe you should think about others for once. I cannot tell you how many times i've seen these lame brains sit there tying up traffic for an hour because they wouldnt move their Volvos from the middle of the road after an accident.
When in a moderate fender bender, move your car off to the side of the road!
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James Fabin 2:52AM (3/24/2006)
Do these rules apply if you crashed an Enzo while racing down Pacific Coast Highway? :-)
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Tom W 3:01AM (3/24/2006)
-Call 911 from your cell phone to report any injuries.
-Immediately write down the license plate number of all cars involved in case someone decides to take off.
-Get the name and phone numbers of any witnesses in your favor.
-Scan the area for any surveillance cameras that might have useful recordings.
-Get the insurance company name of everyone involved.
-Get the drivers license number of all drivers involved.
-Look in the other cars for open liquor containers.
-DO NOT say you are OK when asked if you're hurt. Just say you don't know.
-GET A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT! You will need it to collect any money.
-In the future, assume all drivers are idiots. Give them lots of room to sort out their thoughts.
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cowboy bob 6:07AM (3/24/2006)
After some experience with this problem, one thing stands out. Make sure the cops issue a ticket to the other driver if he/she is at fault. Insist on it. If you don't, your insurance company very likly will raise your rate, or even worse, claim partial responsibility on your part and make you pay your deductable plus raise your rates. Insist on a tickey! This establishes who is at fault. Also do as others have said. Don't move your car until the man says so. Screw those other people. You be a "nice" guy, and you know where they end up? Dead last, and paying more money! Take pictures, and DON'T tell the other person how sorry you are. Keep your trap closed, and don't tell anyone but the cops what you think happened. Others are correct, get names and numbers of witnesses.
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mj10990 7:30AM (3/24/2006)
I do appreciate the humor, but please take note that attempting to take a picture of a police officer can get you in much trouble.
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Gardiner Westbound 7:50AM (3/24/2006)
In this area the police attend injury accidents only. For others you have your car towed to a Police Reporting Center, owned and operated by the insurance cartel. A retired, fat, totally uninterested former cop, with icing sugar on his shirt and coffee stains on his clipboard, notes the damage. There is no investigation.
This jurisdiction has so-called "no fault" insurance. In practice this means you're always at fault because your insurer pays for the damage to your car regardless of the facts. The government allows it to note an accident on your record and raise your rates. Neat scam!
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Greg Epps 10:36AM (3/24/2006)
Great post Joel! I love everyone's comments too. I also want to suggest that Joel find a new insurance company! When I lived in your neck of the woods, I only paid around $600 a quarter for insurance on 2 cars, that's even before I turned 25!
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GeneW 11:08AM (3/24/2006)
I agree with #15, where are you buying insurance? I pay about $115 a month for two cars (collision/liability/comprehensive) and condo contents insurance too.
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Jody 11:11AM (3/24/2006)
If it isn't a crime scene.... MOVE YOUR CAR off to the side of the road. For 10 years i have been yelling this at every group of melodramatic yahoos clogging up my city streets.
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Julio 11:30AM (3/24/2006)
Don't move your car unless it's a simple fender bender. Those yahoos have probably been screwed by the insurance company since most officers won't fault anyone if the cars are moved. Especially onto private property.
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Dolemite 2:20PM (3/24/2006)
But how do you keep the other driver from moving his car off to the side of the road?
One time a guy in a big truck backed up for some unknown reason at a stop sign right over the front of my car. He got out, looked at me, then got back in his truck. I assumed he was going to make a run for it, but he just pulled off into some grass leaving me in the middle of of the road with a smashed car... when the police got there they assumed I had rear ended the guy.
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