It’s an awful, sinking feeling when you get into an accident. First comes the shock, quickly taken over by a feeling of regret, despair, and probably a touch of panic. After you’ve taken a few deep breaths and checked yourself for signs of injury, it’s time to take the proper post-collision steps. In such incidences, it’s tough to think clearly so to help you through those moments, here’s a checklist of what you need to do before visiting our auto body shop in Vancouver. To make it easy, just remember the word S.C.R.A.T.C.H.
S – Stop
No matter how minor or major the accident is, stop at the spot of collision. You’re not only being courteous to others involved, but leaving the scene is considered a hit and run which can have legal consequences. So rather than get caught up in a car chase – no matter how cool they look on TV – stop and check yourself for injury. Are you hurt or bleeding? Are there hazards surrounding the vehicle? If you’re feeling okay and it’s safe to do so, you can exit your vehicle to check if anyone else was hurt. If you’re able to, turn your hazards on to warn other drivers.
C – Call
Call the police, especially if there are injuries involved. While it may seem like overkill for a fender bender, ICBC recommends calling 9-1-1 as an official police report can be beneficial should you need to make a compensation claim. When the police arrive at the scene, they’ll take detailed reports of what occurred, giving you trustworthy evidence for your case. While an official police report is not required to make an ICBC claim, they will need alternative supporting evidence such as camera footage, witness statements, and photographs.
R – Refrain
Refrain from sharing unnecessary private information. Yes, there’s information you’re required to provide to the involved parties, however, it’s important to only share what you need to. For example, you’re required to share names, addresses, contact information, driver’s licence numbers, and insurance information (company, contact number, and policy number). You do not, however, need to provide photos of your driver’s licence or determine who is at fault. To err on the side of caution, discuss the incident with the police and other first responders, as well as you’re your insurance representative. Allow them to investigate on your behalf – that’s their job.
A – Ask for Help
If you need assistance, don’t be afraid to ask the police, first responders, or others on the scene for it. If your car is totalled, you may need to call for a tow truck. They can bring your vehicle to our auto body shop in Vancouver that’s fully accredited with ICBC and accepts private insurance claims. Once your vehicle is with us, our highly skilled and fully certified technicians will repair your auto body to its pre-collision condition.
T – Take Notes
Make sure you’re keeping clear accounts of the incident. Jot down the details of the collision on your phone or a piece of paper if you have it. Not only will this information be required to file an insurance claim, it’s also just helpful for your records. Keep an account of the following:
- Date and time
- Weather and driving conditions
- Location of the collision
- The direction you and the other vehicle(s) were going
- The speed you were driving
- Which lanes you and the other driver(s) were in
- Take photos of the scene
C – Checklist
To report an insurance claim and have your auto body repairs covered, there’s some key information you need. To make it easier, you can print off this ICBC crash scene sheet and keep it in your glovebox. This way, you know you’ll have all the necessary information to file a claim should you need. It also includes a diagram to draw out the scene. Here’s what you’ll need records of:
- Name, address, and phone number of each driver and the registered owner of each vehicle
- Driver’s license number, insurance company, and policy number of each driver
- License plate number of each vehicle
- Name and phone number of any passengers and witnesses on the scene
H – Hospital
Car collisions, even minor ones, can leave you with injuries that have lasting effects. It’s always a good idea to see a doctor for an examination after a collision. Even a minor case of whiplash can impact your abilities and cause painful headaches, mobility issues, and more. When you see a medical professional, include their assessment in your insurance report.
Visit Our Auto Body Shop in Vancouver
Car collisions can be stressful, however, at our auto body shop, we pride ourselves on taking as much stress out of the situation as possible for our clients. By providing excellent auto body repairs and helping you with filing insurance claims, you can relax knowing you and your car are in great hands. To book an appointment with our auto body technicians in Vancouver, contact us today!
