The insurance policy
Many times, people are unaware of what their car insurance policy actually covers in the event that they are injured or involved in a car accident. According to Edmunds, it is important to review your auto insurance policy to make sure that it will provide for your needs. Items to check for include:
- Rental car reimbursement
- Deductible you pay before the insurance company pays
- Towing coverage
- Uninsured driver insurance
- Passenger injury protection
In addition to understanding the limits and provisions of your insurance policy you should always make sure that you do not make a decision that could violate the terms of your policy. For example, if you fail to make an immediate claim because another driver initially promised to pay for the damage to your car out-of-pocket, then you could jeopardize that claim. By always reporting an accident to your insurance company, you also avoid getting sued by the other driver if they try to claim that the accident was your fault, and hold you financially responsible.
Knowing what to say at the scene
An accident is a stressful event and sometimes, people say things that can come back to haunt them later on. You should always remember that when an accident happens, the other drivers are going to blame you, even if they know that they were at fault. If you say things like "I am so sorry" or "I didn't see the other car", you could unknowingly be implicating yourself as the driver at fault.
In addition, it is advisable not to say anything about your medical condition since injuries often appear after the initial shock has worn off.