Inevitably, over our driving careers, we will be involved in some sort of incident or accident. Sometimes it will be our fault, sometimes it won't be. And there are the times we think it wasn't, but our actions contributed to the accident. (NC is a contributory state, which means if you were 1% at fault, then the other insurance company can divert you back to your own insurance company for coverage.)
All that said below are some things to remember when you are in an accident.
1. Get a police report. Sometimes you will have to wait for them to get there, but it will be worth the documentation.
2. Document the incident. Take pictures. Look for witnesses that can support your claims. Gather statements from those involved.
3. Get the contact information from the other party. Phone numbers, insurance carrier and contact names for them, insurance policy numbers. It will come in handy when you are trying to call them.
4. If you were not at fault, report it to the other party's insurance company. If the liability is clear, they will be responsible for repairs, injuries, and a rental car.
5. If it is unclear as to who was at fault, then report to your carrier and let them hash it out with the other party's insurance carrier. Many times they will not go after the other party. The cost of attorneys and time exceeds the benefit to the insurance company.
6. Drive safely. Don't multitask. There are always contributing circumstances that affect an accident.
7. Drive defensively. Be aware of what others are doing. Be aware of road conditions and surrounding traffic. When something happens, generally there were things that could have been done to avoid an incident. Accidents are time consuming and a pain for everyone. And expensive!
