My Car is Wrecked! What Now?
January 22, 2010 by admin
Filed under All Blog Posts, Car Wrecks, Property Damage
The first steps to take after a car accident are the most crucial. Of course, injuries should take priority over anything, but if you are dealing with property damage and are physically able, the following few actions will help you move forward in dealing with your car wreck:
- Contact both your insurance company and the insurance company of the other driver(s). No matter who was at fault, everyone needs to know in case one party or the other isn’t covered by insurance. And your insurance company may be able to help fill in some gaps that another underinsured motorist’s carrier may not be able to cover.
- Get photographs of your vehicle prior to the appearance of the appraiser. Every angle, the license plate, the odometer, and the car’s interior are all important – they may have to support you later on as insurance companies try to dispute your claim.
- If your car is drivable, make sure to get estimates from at least two body shops. This will help you get a better understanding of the true total damage to your vehicle.
- Request a rental vehicle if your car is non-drivable. You are entitled to one from the day of the accident until either a. an offer is made on your total-loss car or b. your car repairs are done. You are not entitled to a rental car if your car is still drivable. If authorization on a rental car is dragging, you are entitled to “loss of use,” even if you have another car at your disposal.
Check our next post for the next steps in the process of dealing with property damage as the result of a car accident! To be continued….
