Page 4 - AAA Northampton County - AAA Now! Fall 2013

Fall 2013 4 3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA • (610) 258-2371 •www.aaanc.com
AAA
Insurance AAANow! TM
By Robin Jones
Justin Lin’s first auto accident was, fortunately, a
minor one. While waiting in line to leave the high
school parking lot, Lin inched forward just a bit
too far—and bumped the car in front of him. He
motioned the other driver to the side of the parking
lot, where they examined both cars for damage (they
didn’t see any) and exchanged phone numbers. Then
Lin handed his insurance card to the other driver, and
she drove away with it. “I had no idea what to do,”
says Lin, who was 16 at the time. “I just did what I’d
heard other people say to do.”
Lin’s inexperience may have caused him to skip a
few steps in the post-accident protocol recommended
by many insurers. But even veteran drivers can get
frazzled and forget to record crucial information.
Here’s a quick guide on what to do after a collision.
Assess the situation
Before you do anything else, take a deep breath.
Then ask yourself these questions.
First: Are you injured? If you or anyone else is hurt,
call 911 immediately.
Second: Is your car operable? If so, drive to the side
of the road or to a safe place so that you don’t
block traffic and cause another accident. If your
car is so badly damaged that it can’t be moved,
turn on your emergency flashers and stay in the
car until help arrives.
Third: Should you call the police? “It’s always a
good idea to call 911 following an accident,” says
Armando Garcia, community outreach officer for
Santa Ana CHP. “ However, if there are no injuries,
only property damage, the parties involved can
agree to just exchange information and leave
the scene.”
Gather information
Once you get to a safe place, and if you feel
comfortable doing so, start exchanging information.
Get the names, driver’s license numbers, addresses,
and phone numbers of any drivers involved. Record
the color, make, model, year, license plate number,
and registered owner for each vehicle, and get the
names and phone numbers of any passengers or
witnesses. Then, get the names and policy numbers
of the drivers’ insurance companies. If it is more
convenient, take photos on your phone capturing
all the necessary information. Lastly, give the same
information about yourself to other drivers.
Next, gather information about the accident
scene. Sketch out the positions of the vehicles at
the time of the accident. Note the location, time,
and weather and road conditions. Use your cell
phone to photograph the scene and the cars
involved, even if there’s no apparent damage.
If the police come to the scene, write down the
officers’ names, badge numbers, and jurisdiction,
and ask them how your insurance company can
get a copy of the police report, if one is filed.
Call your insurance company
Determining fault is best left to an insurance
professional, so don’t admit fault and call your
insurance company as soon as possible, even from
the accident scene. When you get home, write a
detailed account of the collision and download the
photos you took. This information will be useful
during the insurance claims process and could help
if you end up involved in a court case.
Your insurance agent can provide more
information. Stop in at your AAA Northampton
County office, call (610) 258-2371 or go to AAA.com.
Crash Course: Stay calm
(and other steps to take following an accident)
AAA Northampton County offers a
4-hour refresher course.
In order to qualify for this course, you must be
55 or older and have taken the 8-hour Mature
Operators Course with AAA Northampton County
within the past 3 years. AAA Northampton
County also will be offering the 8-hour Mature
Operators Course for those who have not taken
it in the past 3 years.
If you decide to take the 4-hour refresher
course, you will still receive a discount of at least
5% off your automobile insurance premium.
For those of you who have taken this course
within the past 3 years, you will receive (or should
already have received) a mailing regarding our
Mature Operators course. This mailing includes
registration forms for either class.
The cost is $10 for AAA members and $30 for
nonmembers. For more information, visit us
at 3914 Hecktown Road, Easton, or call
(610) 258-2371. Classes are held at AAA
Northampton County. Enrollment is limited.
8-HOUR COURSE (over 2 days)
Daytime Courses: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 18 Thursday, September 19
Saturday, October 5 Saturday, October 12
Wednesday, November 13 Thursday, November 14
4-HOUR REFRESHER COURSE
Daytime Courses: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 11 Wednesday, October 9
Wednesday, November 6 Saturday, November 9
Send registration to:
AAA Northampton County, Traffic Safety Dept.,
3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA 18045
Your cancelled check or receipt is your confirmation. You will
only be notified if course is full, cancelled or rescheduled.
Please include me/us as participant(s) in the
Mature Operators Course scheduled for:
_______________________________________
Name:_______________________________________
Phone #:_____________________________________
Address:_____________________________________
Membership #:_ ______________________________
Email:_ ______________________________________
5% Insurance Premium
Reduction with AAA’s Safe
Driving for Mature Operators Course