While emotions may be high, it’s important to know what to do after a car accident.
Whether it’s a minor fender bender or a more serious incident, no two crashes are the same.
However, those in the world of insurance feel that what comes after an accident should always be the same.
That includes Michael Christian with Christian and Associates of American Family Insurance.
Christian joined the Protecting What Matters Most podcast to explain what should be done directly after an accident occurs.
“First and foremost, be safe and take care of you first. Don’t worry about calling us, we’re probably one of the last that you need to call in this whole series of events,” he said. “Take care of yourself, get medical attention, and make sure you and whoever is involved is okay.”
With health being the most important thing to assess following a crash, receiving medical attention or checking on everyone involved is paramount.
The next step that Christian recommends for those in a crash is one that he says is often overlooked.
“Get law enforcement involved,” he suggested. “I think it’s important just to document the events, whether it’s your fault or someone else’s fault, to have that documented. Because that document goes a long way when it comes time for claim and payout.”
He also explained why getting law enforcement involved is paramount to the insurance claim process after a crash. It could be the difference between saving potentially thousands of dollars in car repair fees.
“That’s definitely why you want to get a report,” he said. “On that police report, it will actually tell you who’s at fault. It could also say that it’s no fault to you or equally at fault. We see a lot of that.”
Christian also noted that not every incident requires a claim to be filed, and it depends on the severity of the damage sustained in an accident.
Whenever a driver is uncertain about whether to file a claim or not, it is recommended to call an insurance agent to discuss the best options going forward.
To listen to the full episode of the Protecting What Matters Most episode with Michael Christian, visit SeehaferPodcasts.com.
