CAR ACCIDENT
A first accident can be a terrifying experience for anyone,
especially a new driver. It can be difficult to remain calm and
remember the proper steps when rattled. Dot Jehle from
Palomar Plus shared with us what every new driver should
know.
NEVER LEAVE THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.
CALL THE POLICE AND IF NECESSARY AN AMBULANCE,
OR ASK SOMEONE TO CALL FOR YOU.
OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM THE OTHER PARTIES:
and address of each driver, passenger, witness & owner of the
• Name
vehicle
• Insurance company and policy number for each vehicle
(Tip: Take a photo of the insurance card.)
REPORT ACCIDENT TO YOUR INSURANCE AGENT OR
DIRECTLY TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
“Your insurance policy has a section noted as ‘General Duties after an
Accident or Loss’ in the policy requirring you to notify the insurance company
promptly after an accident or loss and to include the names and addresses of
any injured persons and of any witnesses.”
But what if it’s just a minor fender bender? Still, Dot says, “The standard
answer is to call the police and notify your insurance company. The reason
is that without a police report or notification you could be at risk for a small
claims lawsuit in the future. What if the other driver discovers damage that
was not visible at the time of the accident and decides he/she now wants compensation? A police report protects both the victim and the at fault driver by
documenting what happened in the accident.”
When the damage is minor, it may be tempting to avoid reporting the accident, opting instead to pay out of pocket for damages in order to avoid an
increase in your premium. Dot advises that, “In most cases it is a good idea
to report the accident and let the company determine liability if it involves
multiple vehicles. However, if you are involved in a single car a