6 Steps To Follow After A Collision In Pennsylvania
Car accidents are one of the scariest and emotional experiences one can ever experience. Whether it’s an unnecessary fender bender in rush hour or an injury causing collision, the following are 6 steps we recommend taking if you’ve been involved in an auto crash:
- Check for injuries: Whether it’s yourself or anyone else in the car, an injury is an injury. Call 911 to get help immediately.
- Safely take control of the scene: If the car is drivable, safely move your car on the right side of the road or the left emergency lane. Turn on your hazard lights and put out reflective triangles or warning flares if you have them. Whatever you do, do not leave the scene of the crash.
- Determine if you need to call 911: In Pennsylvania, it is not required for the police to come to the scene of the accident if there is no serious injury or property damage. In fact, many of these minor collisions don’t need to be reported to the Department of Transportation or the police. However, filing a report can protect you if the other party decides to file a claim. For a copy of the official accident report form AA-600, click here. Of course, if you have been involved in a serious accident, call 911.
- Get Information: Gathering as much information as you can helps any potential problems (such as an exaggeration of the situation or if a claim is made) and future paperwork. We suggest you document:-Get a copy of the official accident report form AA-600.-Accident Location: City or township accident occurred, along with highway or street name-Involved Person: This includes the driver and even uninjured passengers. Record their names and addresses.
–Vehicle Information: License plate number & insurance information for all vehicles involved.
–Accident Diagram: This diagram shows the movement of the cars before the collision and the point of impact.
–Narrative: The narrative describes what happened before, during, and after the collision. It’s important to include the actions of all people involved and any possible weather or road conditions that might have caused or contributed to the accident.
-File Report: The completed form must be mailed with 5 days of the accident to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Highway Safety and Traffic Engineering, PO Box 2047, Harrisburg, PA 17105
- Contact Insurance: The sooner you get in contact with your insurance, the sooner they can start filing the claim. They are available 24/7 and they can let you know what to expect during the claim process.
- Get your car repaired: Although your insurance may encourage you to go to a few different places, ultimately you reserve the right to choose where you want to get your car repaired.We at 3D Collision Center know this is an extremely stressful time and we are here to help you. We put our customers first and are committed to assisting you through the entire repair process. Give us a call today at (877)-692-7776. Or if you’d like to call any one of our locations directly, click here! We look forward to serving you and assisting you in your auto repair process!
