Unfortunately, car accidents are a daily occurrence worldwide. Some collisions may result in a dent in your car, whereas others can have devastating, lifelong injuries. In the worst-case scenario, car accidents can prove to be fatal, especially when speeding is involved. Here are some of the answers to some of the top car accident FAQs.
1. Do I Need to Call My Insurance?
Many people ask the car accident FAQ about insurance, since there are still a few states that don’t require auto insurance. If you’re in a car accident, even if you walk away without a scratch,don’t hesitate to call your insurance company. As a responsible driver in the United States, protect yourself by having both comprehensive and liability coverage. With these types of insurance, you’re covered if you need to get your car repaired because of damage. You may need a brand-new car because it got totaled. If you’re at fault, you may need to pay the other driver for damages to their car. You may also be responsible for property damage, especially if you hit someone else’s private property. If somebody was injured in your car, someone else’s car, or a pedestrian, you’ll also be liable to compensate them. If you don’t have insurance coverage, then that would be a major financial debt to cover.
Protect yourself immediately by looking at automotive insurance ratings. After all, just like any other contractor, insurance companies are not all created equally. You can sort through a list of insurers to see which one is right for you. Insurance rates may vary from state, ZIP Code, the customer’s age, and driving record. You should gather quotes from different automotive insurance providers to see which one suits you and is affordable at this time. Even having minor automotive coverage is better than having none at all.
2. How to Schedule a Post-Accident Inspection?
The car accident faq about inspection may result from confusion about when it should take place. Ideally, you should get it immediately after a collision. The easiest way to schedule a post-accident inspection is by going to a reputable local automotive repair shop. There are likely several automotive professionals in your area who can help you. If you’ve previously taken your car in for repairs, you can likely go back to the same shop. However, certain automotive professionals specialize in post-accident diagnostics and repair. If you can find such a shop, it’s best to go to them. These professionals understand what’s likely to be a problem after a car collision. They often have enhanced diagnostic tools to quickly find issues that may not be readily apparent to the naked eye. They understand checking your truck transmission, brake pads, and the stability of your windshield, even if they don’t appear to be cracked. They’ll test all of your panels to see if they can open and close efficiently. If they find any issues with your car after an accident, they can work with your insurance company to pay for any repairs and replacement needs.
3. Can My Windshield Be Repaired?
Absolutely! Your windshield is like any other feature of your car. If it’s broken, cracked, or unstable, the right automotive specialists can replace it for you. Matter of fact, you should never drive with a cracked windshield as you may get a fine in many places. So, even if that’s the only thing wrong with your car after a collision, don’t hesitate to take it to your local shop to look at it and repair it as quickly as possible. A cracked windshield is unsafe to drive in, as it can shatter upon another impact. In addition to replacing the glass, automotive professionals can also replace your windshield wipers. Knowing the answer to this car accident faq can save you from future injury or fines.
4. How Does Towing Work?
The answer to this car accident faq starts with a simple app download. It’s easier than ever to get in contact with a towing company. You can always sign up for AAA anytime. You can call them 24 seven, whether you’re in a major city or on the side of a rural road. Even if you don’t have AAA, other emergency services can tow your vehicle for you after a collision. If you don’t have one on hand, the best thing you can do is quickly Google it on your phone and find the number of the nearest tow service. Towing works by coming to your location, and they’ll take your vehicle to the nearest repair shop. They may be able to give you a ride to the local auto repair shop, but that’s not always a requirement of their job. You may need to call someone that you know to pick you up or get an Uber or a taxi to the auto repair shop your car has been towed to. You may want to go home first and then go back to the auto shop when your car is at the next day. Even if you don’t automatically go to the shop, contact the police to file a report and your auto insurance immediately.
5. Can Internal Car Damage Occur?
This car accident faq deals with diagnostics. Your local auto repair professionals have diagnostic tools that can test internal car damage. That’s why it’s always important to file a police report, contact your insurance, and take your car in for an inspection. If you don’t take your car in for a check-up and file an official report, you may not have any ground to stand on if your car later breaks down, and you try to get compensation from your insurance. There can be internal issues that require diesel repairs, engine testing, brake pad adjustment, suspension issues, and so on.
6. What Do I Do About Lingering Pain?
You may initially walk away without a scratch after a collision only to later feel terrible. This car accident faq refers to the type of follow-up care you should get for yourself. Even if you don’t have any physical scratches, you should seek a medical practitioner to do an exam to see if there are lingering issues. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries to occur after a car collision. Whiplash happens when the neck quickly snaps back and forth upon impact. Another common issue is a concussion, in which the same quick snapping back-and-forth happens to the brain inside your skull. Many people often experience a herniated disc from an impact, which results in lower back pain. If you have a herniated disc, it can also compress your sciatic nerve, which may cause pain to run from your lower back down to the back of your heel.
You may need to see foot doctors if you experience neuropathy or foot bone fractures because of a collision. If you’re unsure which specialist to go to, see a general medical practitioner first to run a series of tests like X-rays or an MRI.
Chiropractors also recommend people see them immediately after a car accident, even if they’re not in pain. These specialists often treat patients who develop whiplash. They can often prevent whiplash from worsening when they can start working on your upper spine and neck muscles immediately after the collision.
7. How Do I Fix My Car’s Dents?
Unless you’re an auto professional with your own shop, you can’t fix the car dents on your own. The only thing you do is take them to your local auto detailer to fix them for you. Some of them can use paintless dent repair in which they use a suction tool that can fix the dent from the inside out. As a result, it won’t damage your paint, so you won’t have to worry about unmatched colors or additional fees beyond the dent repair itself. A good way to handle this car accident FAQ is to find auto detailers online who post photos and videos of their finalized work. A good before and after results of that repair can give you confidence that someone can help your damaged car. You can also ask someone in your inner circle who may have also needed dent repair for a referral to a good detailer.
8. Where to Store a Junked Vehicle?
Has your car been totaled and is now officially a piece of junk? If so, you may wonder what to do with a lemon on your hands. Because of car parts, even a junk vehicle isn’t useless, so you may want to store it until you find other uses for it. You can hire a local shed builder to create a shed on your property that can store your junk vehicle and others. If you like to tinker around with cars, you may store them on your own property under that protective shed. See if you can repair it by adding a different engine, transmission suspension, and more.
Another element to this car accident faq may involve sales for scrap. Many people would pay something for your junk vehicle just for the parts alone. Some people may want to take the scrap parts and melt them down. You may even have local artists do sculptures and installations from useless car parts. If you have a junk vehicle and you’re not sure where to store it, you may want to advertise it on sites like Craigslist or even Facebook marketplace. You’re likely to find someone willing to take it off your hands and do different things with it.
9. Does a Garage Protect My Car?
The main point of a garage is to protect and store your car. Sure, many people use the garage for other things now such as workshops, hobbies, and even storage. Some people may use their garage as an additional living space, especially if they have an overhead apartment on it. With that said, the main purpose of a garage is to hold and store cars. Therefore, if your garage is having issues, call local garage door services immediately to ensure your garage can efficiently close on its track. When a garage door can’t fully close, it allows the elements in, which can affect your car. It’s also a safety issue, as thieves may be able to get in under a gap and vandalize or steal your vehicle.
10. How to Lower Post-Accident Insurance Rates?
If you’ve been in a car accident, you may be dealing with physical, emotional, and financial stress. Even if you walk away without injuries, you may likely be dealing with financial repercussions from insurance rates. If you get into more than one collision, it can affect your insurance. When you live in a certain ZIP code, you may already be dealing with high insurance rates because of the likelihood of accidents and theft. However, there are ways you can lower your post-accident insurance rate.
One thing you can do is participate in a defensive driving course. Taking this course shows you’re serious about being a safe driver and avoiding more collisions in the future. You may also want to consider moving to a new ZIP Code in which there is less likelihood of getting into any more collisions. For example, paying for car insurance in New York City is much higher than in Westchester County, NY, because of the likelihood of car theft in NYC. You can always enjoy work and socializing in NYC, but lower insurance rates by moving to a nearby suburb.
Now you have some answers to the car accident FAQ people ask. Being aware of these answers can help you in case you’re in a car accident or currently dealing with a fallout from one recently. You’re not alone if you’ve ever had to deal with a car crash, whether you were at fault or not. Accidents happen daily due to weather, car breakdowns, driver impairment, and so on. Moving forward, be as careful as you can on the road, as it’s your responsibility to drive as safely as possible for your safety, your passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians. Stay safe as a driver in 2024 by using this helpful guide and answers to common questions about vehicle collisions.
