Car damage can happen due to several things. But no matter how it happened, it’s normal to wonder what you can do to deal with it.
Here are some things you could do if your car gets damaged.
Contents
Keeping Calm and Assessing the Situation
You need to try to maintain composure after your car gets damaged. A thorough assessment of your environment will help determine if you’re in a secure location. When vehicle damage occurs while driving, you should position your car in a protected spot. Other motorists need to be alerted by your hazard signals. In collision scenarios, you’ll want to check for injuries to yourself and others. You need to check to see if anyone is hurt. Moving severely injured individuals is inadvisable unless immediate danger exists
Documenting the Damage
Once you are safe, gather facts. Try to get clear pictures of your vehicle from all sides. Include up close shots of the damage and shots that show the whole scene. You can try to get license plates, street signs, or landmarks in the background. Recording the information, too, can be helpful. Note the time, the place, and the weather. If damage occurred in a parking lot, look for cameras nearby.
Reporting the Incident
If an additional driver is involved, you can exchange insurance and contact information. In case of a serious accident, you can call the police. A police report gives a record of an official document. This may be helpful when making insurance claims. You may find it beneficial to have a copy of the report for your own records. You might want to find out how to obtain your Arizona crash report, or the crash report from wherever the incident took place.
Working With Your Insurance Company
Once you report, your insurance company will take you through the rest of the process. They may request photos, copies of documents, or copies of the police report. Give good and truthful information to avoid delays. An adjuster can check the car in order to determine repair costs. This is sometimes done face-to-face and sometimes through photos. Then the insurer will clarify what your policy covers. With rental coverage, you might be able to get a temporary vehicle during the repair period. In case you do not agree with the estimate or coverage, you can ask questions or request a review. Insurance is a complicated process, but being patient will help in the process.
Getting Professional Repairs
In repairing the damage, a reliable repair shop can be helpful. Some insurance companies recommend preferred shops, but you are most of the time allowed to choose one. Ensure that you find a good, reviewed, and certified shop. Request a written estimate prior to repair work. This will prevent cost shocks. When the damage is to something that concerns safety, like brakes, airbags, and steering, repairs are to be conducted urgently before driving the vehicle.
Check the car after the repair. Ensure that the repair is well done and that the car is safe on the road. Save every receipt and other paperwork in case you may be called later.
Conclusion
Car damage is a stressful event. However, taking good measures can help ease the experience.
