Most drivers do not regard fender benders to be accidents of a much worthy note. However if you are involved in a fender bender, it is always advisable to make sure that you get some relevant information about the accident in the event that you have to make an insurance claim or the other party makes an insurance claim against you.
The first thing to do is to check the extent of the damage. It may not be substantial on the exterior of the vehicle but there may be internal damage that is caused that will only become apparent later. Therefore it is important that you collect some key information before driving off from the scene of the accident. This information includes the names, addresses and contact details of the other parties involved in the accident. If you can, also take note of the vehicle make and model as well as the license plate number as well.
Most drivers will also be able to provide you with information about the insurance company that they are using, and ideally you should also get information about the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is usually found at the dashboard, at the driver’s side of the vehicle. If it is not visible there, it can also be found on the doorpost, on the insurance policy or card or on the ownership documents. The VIN is different from the license plate number and comprises 17 characters.
Of all the information that you obtain, the VIN number is the most critical as through this, it will be possible to track down the vehicle details. This is because almost all insurance companies use the VIN as the means to track a vehicle rather than the registration number as the former cannot be altered whereas the latter can.
Once you have done this, make an appointment with your mechanic to determine the extent of the damage. If it is minor, then you have to decide whether you are prepared to pay for this yourself, or if the other party caused the accident you can contact him and negotiate for him to pay for the damages. If however the damage to your vehicle is more extensive, then you will want to consider making an insurance claim. In the event that you are uncertain about how to proceed on this, it may be useful to get the advice of a car accident lawyer to determine what needs to be done and how.
It is also useful that you contact your own insurance agent as soon as possible after the accident. If the damage is extensive then it becomes important that you get copies of any police report that have been filed about the accident, as this documentation is important for the purposes of making a claim, either to your own insurers or the insurance company that the other party uses. You will find that in many instances, while it may appear at first instance to be a simple fender bender, there can be more extensive damage to the car that will require support and assistance not only from your insurance agent but also your car accident lawyer.
