Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Steps to Take in a Car Crash

Florida Auto insuranceBeing in a car accident is stressful and can leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed.  According to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, there are over 16 million drivers in Florida and over 200,000 car accidents every year. A car accident can leave even the most level headed driver startled.

“Being prepared for the unexpected can help”, says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President of GreatFlorida Insurance. “It’s a good idea to keep your vehicle registration, auto insurance card, health insurance information and emergency contacts in the glove compartment so they can be easily accessed in an emergency.”

There are some simple steps to take in order to make the experience less traumatic:

  • Take a deep breath and try to remain calm.
  • Check for injuries, if you are uncertain about the severity of an injury call 911 for medical assistance and ere on the cautious side.
  • If the accident is minor, try to move the vehicles to the shoulder of the road or a safe area, out of traffic.
  • If the car cannot be moved, the driver and all passengers should remain in the car with seatbelts fastened to prevent further accidents.
  • Turn on your hazard lights. Place flares or warning signs if you have some, behind the car to warn oncoming traffic.
  • Call the police even if the accident is minor, they will let you know if an officer needs to be present.
  • Call your insurance agent immediately.

Make detailed notes, important information to gather will be:

  • Drivers, occupants and witnesses names and phone numbers and email.
  • If the name on the auto registration is different than the driver involved in the accident, make a record of the relationship.
  • The vehicle make, year, color, model and license plate number
  • Get the drivers insurance company name, phone number and policy number.
  • If emergency services respond record the police report number, officer name, phone number and badge number.
  • Take photos of the damage on all vehicles involved.

Some additional tips for your protection include:

  • Do not sign any documents unless they are for the police or your insurance agent.
  • Do not tell anyone the accident was your fault even if you think it was.
  • State only facts and limit the discussion of the car crash to the police and your insurance agent.
  • If possible, do not leave the accident scene before the police and other drivers do.
  • Be polite– a car accident is a volatile and sometimes frightening situation.  Being polite will help keep emotions cool and the situation calmer. It is not the time to lay blame, even if the accident was not your fault. Check with the others involved and make sure everyone is alright.

You can depend on GreatFlorida Insurance when the unexpected occurs. Our experienced agents are located across Florida and can help you find the health insurance or auto insurance ideal for your lifestyle, contact us today.

FloridaAutoAccidents

Dustyn Shroff
Dustyn Shroffhttp://www.greatflorida.com
Vice President at GreatFlorida Insurance

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