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In
case of an accident be prepared with the
1616 Walnut Street, Suite 1105, Philadelphia, PA 19103 If
you are involved in an accident: Do stop at once.
Report the accident to the nearest
Police Station. Do this even if the accident seems too trivial to bother with.
This will protect you against a hit and run charge. Don't
allow your car to be towed to a repair shop you are not familiar with.
Don't authorize any repairs by signing
a towing release unless you have decided to have your car repaired by the shop
your car is being towed to. Read and understand any papers you sign before you
sign them. Do make sure no one is
injured.
Transport any injured person to the
hospital. If injuries appear serious, call an ambulance. If you have any reason
to suspect you were injured in the accident, see a physician promptly. You'll
want it on record that you sought treatment right away - not a week or so later.
Don't
give a signed statement to the claims adjuster
representing the other driver's
insurance company. The same goes for a phone recording. They may be used against
you in court. Do write a complete
description of the accident as soon as possible.
Use this handy accident record to help
you gather important information. If possible, take pictures, even if it means
returning to the scene of the accident at a later time. If you do return at a
later time, bring a friend to witness the picture taking. Don't
finalize settlement of your claim until you
are sure you've recovered, all bills are in, and you've had time to decide what
you want. Do notify your insurance
company.
Some people don't notify their
insurance company if the claim appears small and there are no apparent injuries.
They do this when they are at fault so their insurance premium won't increase,
but what happens if the person they hit claims a back injury six months later?
Settling the claim yourself is dangerous. Be careful. At the very least, use a
release similar to this one on the back of your check: "Acceptance of this
check will constitute full and complete settlement of all claims associated with
the accident of (date)" Follow all prescribed procedures when reporting an
accident to your insurance company. Note the dates and names of all insurance
company representatives you talk with so you know who to contact if trouble
develops. Don't
hire just any Lawyer. If you
feel you need legal counsel, hire a Lawyer who specializes in negligence cases,
and has court experience. Do find out what accident
reports you must fill out. Minimum
damage that must be reported is Don't accept
a check for the repair of your car until
you're sure it covers all the necessary
repairs. You alone are responsible for having your car repaired... see that it's
done right. The role of the insurance company is to collect premiums and pay
claims. Naturally, they try to hold down claims as much as possible. Your
responsibility is to yourself. It's your car. Have your car repaired to your
satisfaction... by the shop of your choice. Do be aware of the
"Appraisal Clause" in
your insurance policy. If the insurance company and the body shop cannot agree
on what the repairs should cost, this could provide a means for fair settlement. Don't be
fooled by "the lowest estimate".
There is a big difference in body
shops. A low bid could reflect an incomplete job. When some items (like
alignment) are overlooked on a repair, the consequences to the driver can be
serious. An improperly repaired car... especially one with heavy structural
damage, is like a time bomb waiting to go off. Exercise your right to determine
which shop repairs your car. Make sure every detail has been attended to and
repaired to your complete satisfaction before signing any insurance company
releases. Do have even minor
damage repaired. Letting
your car go unrepaired can cost you in the long run. Dents and rust spots deduct
from the resale or trade in value of your car. You're going to pay for it
eventually, so you might as well drive a car that's in first class condition
now. GET THESE FACTS IN CASE OF ACCIDENT Date____________________
Time____________________ WITNESSES NAMES Officer
present________________________________________ LIST OF INJURED Name
of injured________________________________________ PROPERTY DAMAGE Name
of Owner____________________ License#____________________
Draw diagram of accident showing the direction of both cars and the
point of accident. Show Street names and location of street signs (stop signs,
etc.) Describe any other damage or pertinent details below: ________________________________________ Print out a copy of this accident report and keep it in your glove box.
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