I Have Been In An Accident- Now What?

Briana Hartzell USAA
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November 2016

 

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Recently, a friend of mine was in a fender bender. She was hit from behind and then her car collided with the vehicle in front of her. As we discussed the sequence of events, she mentioned she didn’t know the proper steps to take after an accident and I confessed I did not either!

 

I spoke with a USAA claims specialist and their recommended steps are as follows:

 

  1. Ensure Your Safety
    - This means moving your vehicle to the side of the road, or exiting your vehicle and moving to safety if your car is not drivable.

  2. Notify the Police
    - If you or others are injured call 911. If everyone seems unharmed it is still a good idea to call law enforcement to complete an accident report

  3. Exchange Information
    - Get the other driver's name, address and insurance company details.
    - Snap a picture of your vehicle and others involved in the accident (this way you will have the make, model and color of vehicle as well as the license plate number)
    - Did anyone witness the accident? Write down their names and contact information

  4. Contact your Insurance provider
    - Call your insurance company or use your insurance provider’s mobile application to report the accident.

You can find the USAA claims Ap in the claims center. In a few steps, you can report the accident and provide the necessary details to start your claim:

 

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Thankfully my friend was injury free and was able to quickly and easily report her claim using USAA’s mobile claims center. Another driver contacted the police and even luckier, a car full of witnesses were FBI agents who took the other witnesses’ personal details down to turn into the authorities. I have personally never experienced an automobile accident (knock on wood), but knowing the recommended steps to take if it happens will make the process less stressful.

 

Helpful Resources:

FAQ Following an Accident

 

About the Blogger: Briana Hartzell is a Navy spouse, mother to two beautiful girls (3 years and 8 months), a former full time USAA employee and a graduate of Texas A&M University. Briana writes at Being Briana, a blog focused on the joys that military life and parenthood can bring.

 

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