What You Should Do If You Are Rear Ended In Your Car

Being in a car accident is a scary, life altering experience for some people. The nervousness most drivers experience directly after an accident may cause someone to forget what steps they need to take to resolve the situation. An added consideration, if you get rear ended, is that the driver who hit you may or may not have auto insurance.  

Drivers without auto insurance often try to haggle with you or offer you cash on the spot as an incentive for you to not make a claim. However, it is important to remember that you should always report a rear-end collision to your insurance company and never take a bribe.

Remain calm

After a car accident, even at low speeds, you may feel jittery or confused.  Before getting out of your vehicle to assess the damage, it is advisable to take a few deep breaths in and breathe out slowly to calm yourself down, and to give yourself a few seconds to remember the steps you need to take to handle the situation.

Call the authorities and document the crash

Before reporting the accident to your insurance company, call 911 for assistance.  The last thing you want to do is be confrontational with a disgruntled or drunk driver, so it’s best to get the police involved.  If there are any injuries or damage to your car, take pictures and write down the details of the crash.  It's best to write down the details immediately while they're still fresh in your memory. 

If the car at-fault is leaving the scene while you’re on the phone with the 911 dispatcher, quickly give them the license plates number.  This way the number is documented in case you did not have time to write it down.  When talking to the dispatcher, give them as many details as possible which should include:

• The road the accident happened on
• How it happened
• If there are any immediate emergencies
• Any nearby mile markers

Getting the other drivers information

Once you exit your car, ask for the other driver’s drivers license and take down the number, address and phone number.  At the same time, write down the driver's license plate number and the make and model of their car (as well as the color).

Call your insurance company

Notify your insurance company of any rear-end collision you're involved in, whether the damage to your car is visible or not. It is quite possible to have extensive internal damage that may not affect your driving for a day or two after the accident.  Any injuries you have may also not be apparent for hours or days after the accident, so always report collisions.  

If you have a portable camera, or a camera phone, snap a picture of the accident and any damage to your car or the other vehicle.  You may need to submit this information along with your claim to the insurance company.

Last but not least, if you suffer an injury, you may want to find an accident lawyer who specializes in rear-end collisions. 

For more information on your Miami Auto Insurance or collision cover, give Allstar Direct Insurance & Financial Services a call at 855-754-7414. We are there to find you the right service at the right price, and will be there for you in the times of an accident.

State Level Auto Insurance Relief

Across the country, rising costs for auto insurance are hitting some small businesses and many thousands of families. It’s often hard for lower-income drivers to remain insured, yet the threat of uninsured drivers on the road is a major issue for many states. In response, more than a few states have considered additional state assistance programs to help make sure that affordable car insurance is available to as many state residents as possible.

What’s Behind State Auto Insurance Programs

Officials in many states have been looking carefully at what happens when uninsured drivers are involved in collisions. States have created additional coverage for insured drivers to cover these kinds of accidents, but that’s no substitute for actually bringing down the number of uninsured drivers in a given state. Reports from Road and Travel magazine show how many states are experiencing high numbers of uninsured drivers on the road, and which states seem to be falling behind in controlling this liability.

States officials understand that taking uninsured drivers off of the road is critical. That’s why states like California have developed their own programs for making car insurance affordable. These programs must provide liability coverage according to state limits, and often offer fixed premiums that are less expensive than what drivers would usually get on the open market.

Disclosure of State Programs

Some states have also written laws requiring insurance brokers or agents to tell customers about state relief programs. Without these kinds of protections, many of those who need these policies the most will not understand how to get them. State residents need to know about the availability of these programs, along with any eligibility requirements that may apply. Some states may require that drivers applying for low cost auto insurance have a good driving record. Maximum income levels were maximum vehicle values may also apply.

How to Find State Car Insurance Programs

Generally, those looking for state relief for their auto insurance coverage can check with their state’s Department of Insurance or Insurance Commissioner Office. Other state departments may also be able to assist, and generally maintain resources for residents over the Internet. For those who struggle to make car insurance payments and remain legally on the road, it’s a good idea to take a look and see what kinds of state programs may currently be available, or whether any others are pending.

For assistance finding the Miami Car Insurance program that best fits you, call an Allstar Direct Insurance & Financial Services agent today at 855-754-7414.