If you are like many people, the first thing that crosses your mind when you have a car crash is making sure your passengers and occupants in involved autos are not seriously injured. But, after you have checked on everyone, it is important to remain calm and take a few steps to protect yourself from accusations and potential lawsuits. Making sound decisions in these situations is absolutely the first thing that you should notice running through your mind after you make sure your passengers and others are physically OK, of course. There are a few other things that Integrity Insurance believes every driver should be thinking about immediately after an accident. This article explains what your accident victims need to focus on to protect yourself and our insurance agency.
What You Should Know About Your Responsibilities at the Scene
Most people probably know that you must stop when you have a traffic accident – Kansas law requires you to remain on the scene anytime you hit another vehicle until law enforcement releases you. But, some people may not know you have an obligation to your insurance company to refrain from admitting fault. Even if you think you caused the accident, you must still not admit wrongdoing, as this could make it harder to protect yourself and our agency against lawsuits and damage claims.
Tip #1: Stop as soon as possible after a crash and never admit fault.
Along with an obligation to refrain from discussing your wreck with anyone other than law enforcement, and your Integrity Insurance representatives, you need to be our eyes and ears on the scene.
Being the eyes and ears of your auto insurance partner means that you must truthfully report what caused the accident, even if you are at fault, to our team. We have the skills and resources to determine liability, but we must have accurate information to do our job.
Tip #2: Contact your agent and give your statement about the accident.
While documenting the scene with photos and written descriptions is important, you are responsible for collecting contact information, including names, telephone numbers, email, etc., too. We need this information (along with the other party’s insurance information) to gather statements and process your claim.
When documenting an accident scene, remember to add relevant details, including:
- The direction each car was driving
- Road debris and/or damage
- Weather conditions
- Comments made and actions taken by yourself and others after the crash
- Witness names and contact information
- Speed of all cars involved, if possible
- Anything else that could have distracted drivers, such as loud music, crying children in the car, unusual structures along the roadway, or animals crossing the road.
Tip #3: Document the scene and gather important information for our insurance adjusters.
Talk With Your Integrity Insurance Group Representative About Accident Response
Driving comes with many obligations and responsibilities. In Kansas, as in other states, drivers have a responsibility to stop if they hit anything – both moving and parked cars, animals, bridges and highway infrastructure, and anything that may have been damaged. You need to contact Integrity Insurance Agency every time you are involved in an accident. Doing so will ensure that you and our agency are fully protected.
If you are looking for a new insurance partner, we are anxious to meet with you to review your auto insurance needs. Please contact us to discuss the best coverage plan for you and other drivers in your household.
