Page 16 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – December 2020/January 2021

INSURANCE NEWS
What to Do
After a Car Accident
When we start our day, we don’t consciously think “I am going to be involved in an accident today.” However, when an accident does happen, whether you are at fault or not, here are some simple tips to make sure you are not caught off-guard and unsure of what to do next.
REAR-END COLLISION
The most common type of incident is being rear- ended while at a standstill. Depending on how fast the other driver was going, being rear-ended can cause whiplash amongst other injuries. First and foremost, check for injuries and call 911 if necessary. Then, if possible, move the vehicles out of the way of traffic safely. Call the police and complete the accident report.
Gather the other driver’s information and contact your insurance agent. Using your smartphone, take photos or video from different angles. If there are no injuries and this accident was not your fault, you have options. You can contact the at-fault driver’s insurance company to start the claims process. If there is no response within a few days, contact your insurance carrier and they will guide through the process of repairing your
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vehicle. Keep in mind you will most likely be subject to a deductible. Should your insurance carrier successfully subrogate the claim with the at-fault driver, you could receive your deductible back. This process can take months to close.
T-BONE ACCIDENT
Another common type of incident is when the front of one vehicle hits the side of another. Broadside accidents usually happen at an intersection, stop sign or traffic-light intersections when a driver fails to yield the right of way. Again, in the event of this scenario, you should always check first for injuries and call 911 if necessary. Then, if possible, move the vehicles out of the way of traffic safely. Call the police and complete the accident report.
Since this type of accident can often lead to differences in opinion as to what actually occurred at the time of the incident, it is best to call your insurance carrier as soon
as possible so you can make a recorded statement while it is still fresh in your mind. The idea here is that when an insurer is trying to determine who is at fault in an accident, it may come to light that each person involved should be assigned a percentage of the blame.
16 I DEC/JAN 2020/21