Even minor car accidents can lead to a lot of stress. The whole thing from making sure no one is hurt, to exchanging necessary information, to dealing with insurance may get tiring and one might easily miss some important steps before taking their car for repair. If you live in Muskego, using a post-accident checklist is a great way to avoid repair difficulties and ensure your car is in good hands.
Here is a detailed list of steps to take before you go to a body shop in Muskego such as Mander Collision & Glass.
Step 1: Safety First and Call if Help is Necessary
Safety is the first thing to deal with after an accident. Look for injuries on yourself, on your passengers, and on every other person involved. If so, call for an ambulance without delay. If the cars are obstructing traffic but can move, push them to a safe place.
After safety is secured, activate hazard lights and use flares or cones if you have them, so that other road users are notified. These measures help to maintain safety for everyone while you are taking care of the next step.
Step 2: Complete Documentation of the Scene
Be patient and do not rush to leave the accident site; instead, collect all the possible information. This documentation will play an important role during the insurance negotiation process as well as during the auto body collision repair when your car is brought in.
You must:
- Capture the damage to your vehicle with pictures from various angles.
- Take pictures of the accident scene along with the road conditions, traffic control signs, and tire marks.
- Get the other driver(s) information: their names, phone numbers, plate numbers, and insurance details.
- Record the time, day, and weather conditions when the accident occurred.
The more information you have the easier it will be for your insurance company and the repair shop to make an evaluation about the situation.
Step 3: File a Police Report if Necessary
In Wisconsin, it is a must to file a police report in case an accident results in injuries, death, or property damage of over $1,000. Having an official report, even in the case of a minor accident, can be beneficial in disputes with insurance companies by assuring your protection.
The police report will be a good source of information for the repair shop as it will help document the damages and cope with the insurance company.
Step 4: Contact Your Insurance Company Promptly
After recording the accident, a quick phone call to your insurance provider. Tell them the details and show the pictures that you took. If you filed a police report, they might want a copy of it.
The insurance company will let you know how to deal with the claim and may suggest particular repair shops. However, drivers in Wisconsin have the right to choose their own body shop in Muskego and teaming with a reliable one like Mander Collision & Glass guarantees good repairs that will meet your needs.
Step 5: Remove Personal Belongings and Essentials
It is advisable to take out important things like personal belongings, documents, and valuables before taking the car to the repair shop. By this, I mean items such as the registration, garage door opener, and electronics as well as smaller everyday items.
Doing this beforehand prevents the inconvenience of having to retrieve them later when the car is being repaired.
Step 6: Review Repair Options and Ask Questions
Service levels at different auto body shops may vary, therefore it is crucial to select a shop that is well-versed in complete auto body collision repair. A trustworthy shop such as Mander Collision & Glass in Muskego will offer:
Itemized estimates showing the repair costs.
Step 7: Arrange Transportation While Your Vehicle is in the Shop
To begin with, it is important to contemplate about the means of transportation that you will use during the time your car is being fixed. Inquire from the mending workshop if they can provide the service of a rental car or if they have any shuttle services. Moreover, most of the full-service car body shops directly collaborate with the rental car companies to provide a hassle-free experience.
Making Repairs Stress-Free with Mander Collision & Glass
Crashes are never a good time, but at least being ready can help you cope a little bit easier. By ticking off this list, you will not only protect your safety but also make your insurance claim and vehicle care with the highest quality easier.
For drivers in Muskego, Mander Collision & Glass is a reputable body shop in Muskego that provides the best auto body collision repair and customer service. Their team works with you every step of the way to make sure your car is fixed right so you can hit the road again with confidence.
