What to Do When Your Car Is Totaled
When you’re involved in a car accident, the shock and sudden rush of adrenaline can leave you feeling unsure of what to do next. That’s why it’s important to know exactly how to deal with a totaled car. By making sure you’re prepared for any eventuality, you’ll feel more comfortable behind the wheel and become a more confident driver. With this in mind, take a look at these steps to take when your car is totaled:
1. Seek Medical Help
If your vehicle has sustained extensive damage, you may have experienced significant injuries too. Before dealing with a totaled car, be sure to seek medical help for yourself and anyone else affected by the incident.
Depending on the severity of the incident, you may need to call 911 and request emergency medical assistance; but even if you don’t think you’ve been badly hurt, it’s still worth getting medical advice as soon as possible and consider at least consulting with a personal injury lawyer to make sure you’re protecting your rights.
2. Inform the Police
If your car has been totaled, it’s likely that there’s been a significant incident on the road. Furthermore, your vehicle may now be blocking the highway, in which case police will need to make the area safe for other people.
By contacting the police and informing them of the incident, you can ensure that you’re meeting your legal obligations and reducing the risk of further accidents taking place.
3. Collect Contact Details
If you feel well enough to do so, ask everyone involved to exchange their contact details. This will enable you to pass the information on to your insurance company and can speed up the process of establishing liability.
Similarly, ask witnesses if they are willing to supply their contact information too, as they may be required to relay what they saw or heard at a later date.
4. Contact Your Insurers
You need to let your insurance company know that you’ve been involved in an accident as quickly as possible. Providing your injuries don’t prevent you from getting in touch with them, try to do this within a few hours of the incident occurring.
As well as fulfilling your duties under your insurance policy, this will ensure that the process of making a claim can begin straight away, and hopefully speed up the process of getting you a replacement car and potentially even a rental on your insurance’s dollar for the interim.
5. Recover Your Vehicle
If your car has been totaled, you’re not going to be able to drive it away from the scene of the accident. However, towing and recovery services will enable you to have the vehicle moved to another location, such as your driveway or the street outside your home. From there, you can arrange for your insurance company to inspect the vehicle and get your insurance claim underway.
Dealing with a Totaled Car
No matter what type of accident you’ve been in, dealing with the aftermath can be challenging. If you’re recovering from injuries as well, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got all the support you need.
By relying on professionals, like towing companies and insurance firms, you can minimize the number of things you need to do. Instead, you’ll be able to focus on your recovery and getting your car repaired or replaced.