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5 Steps to Take in Case of a Fender Bender

Staying calm and knowing what to do is the first step in navigating a fender bender successfully. Hopefully, this post by Marlo Enterprises in Newark, NY, will help you if you ever find yourself in one.

What’s Considered a Fender Bender?

Fender benders are minor car accidents that happen at low speed and where the most affected part of the vehicle is the rear or front fender. These types of car crashes happen around 1.7 million times a year and are usually caused by one of the drivers not paying attention to the road. Other reasons for fender benders are stopping suddenly and backing up from a parking space or driveway without paying attention.

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Step 1: Assess the Damage

After being in a fender bender, the first step is to stop your car and make sure you and everyone in your car are ok. Once you’ve seen if everyone is ok, decide if it’s safe to step out from your vehicle so you can assess the damage to your car. If you’re on a road with heavy traffic, it’s best to wait for a police officer to come to the scene. If you can leave your car, review your car and the other person’s car for damage, and try to say as little as possible to the other driver.

Step 2: Call 911

Next up is calling 911. You must report the crash even if no one was hurt, as crashes can make emotions run high. It’s essential that you have an impartial third party that can help collect evidence and statements if the crash becomes contentious. Once the officer gets to the scene, ask them for a number to contact them and their badge number. When it’s time to talk to the police, let them know the facts of the accident and avoid embellishing or adding details that could confuse the situation. The police’s job is to get a clear picture of the accident for the report, so help them do so. Once they’re done, ask them for the accident report number to follow up in asking for the accident report, which usually takes a couple of days to process. You’ll need this report when filing a claim with your insurance provider.

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Step 3: Take Pictures and Video

Your next step is to take pictures and video of your car and the other driver’s car damage. You should also take notes about the scene and your recollection of the crash, as well as pictures. Another helpful detail to have is the weather and road conditions at the moment of the accident. All these pieces of evidence can be helpful when you file a claim with your insurance. Once you’ve documented the scene, move the cars out of the way of traffic to avoid obstructing traffic further.

Step 4: Exchange Information

Once you’re done documenting the scene, make sure to exchange information with the other driver. The information you should get is name, phone number, address, date of birth, license number and expiration date, insurance company number and contact information, license plate number, and a description of the other vehicle. If there were any crash witnesses, try to get their information too. Having their information could be helpful to file a claim.

Step 5: Call Your Insurance

As the last step, whether the crash was your fault or not, it’s important to notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Once you get in touch with them, they will ask you questions about the accident, explain in detail what your policy will cover, and if there are any deductibles, you’ll need to pay to get your car fixed.