The Dos and Don'ts of a Minor Car Accident

The fender bender you were just in appears to be minor.  No one looks injured, and there is minimal damage to the vehicles.  First breathe a sigh of relief - then take these precautions to help prevent your small accident from becoming a big problem.

Don't drive away.

Do stay at the scene and move your vehicle to a safe place out of traffic even if there appears to be no damage.  If the other car is parked, and the owner isn't around, leave a note with your name and contact information.

Don't assume there aren't injuries.

Do assess yourself and your passengers.  Even low-impact collisions can cause injuries, some not appearing until days after the accident.

Don't sign any documents and avoid accepting or offering cash for repairs. You may end up paying out-of-pocket to repair damage to your car that only appears minor, or you could pay the other driver more than necessary.

Do stay calm. Take notes and photos, and exchange information with the other driver, including name, address, phone number, driver's license number, license plate number, insurance company, and policy number.

Don't assume an accident is too minor to be reported.

Do call the police or file a report on your own. This will help your insurance agent file your claim.  An accident report could also help protect you from issues that may arise later about the extent of damage to your vehicle or injuries to you and the other driver.

Don't forget to notify your agent.

Do discuss your options for handling potential claims. 

Smartpone apps like the State Farm Pocket Agent make it easy to capture the essential details of an accident.  Pocket Agent can help you diagram the accident scene, record witnesses' names and number, contact your agent, and even locate nearby repair shops.

For questions about this, or any other insurance related matter, contact your local State Farm Agent, Adam B. Weissberger, at 860-454-7770, or via e-mail at adam@insuremeadam.com