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When you take your car out for a spin, you always leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you.  You brake slowly and deliberately. You rarely speed, and you never use your phone.  But the driver behind you may not be so safe.  He may have a lead foot.  She may be trying to send a quick text. He may be weaving in and out of traffic recklessly.  Next thing you know… SLAM!  You’re rear-ended causing you both to lose control and spin off the highway into a field of trees.  You’ve just had your first crash, and it wasn’t even your fault!  Do you know what to do after a car accident?

It’s something we’ve all thought about at one time or another before getting behind the wheel.  How would I react, and what would I do if I were involved in an auto accident? What if there are injuries? What should I say to the police or people at the scene?  When it comes to car accident law, am I at fault? What’s the deal with car accident insurance claims? The questions are endless and so is the number of motor vehicle accidents that happen every single day. Will you be prepared if it happens to you? 

What to Do After a Car Accident

The 5 Critical “Must Do’s” When in An Auto Accident:

1. Remain calm. Be sure no one is injured and needs care. If so, call 911.
2. Always call the police and have them fill out a report.  Do not give your personal information, including your insurance info, to anyone other than the police officer.  Do not leave the accident scene.
3. Get witnesses and leave the cars where they are.  Photos may be helpful, but they’re easily doctored so opinions differ on how useful they might be.
   Limit discussion of the accident. Speak only to the police officer or your insurance agent. Do not discuss fault or liability at scene of accident.
4. Report even minor accidents to your insurance agent.   You’ll want to review coverages, next steps, whether it’s in your best interest to file a claim and  if so, with whom.

Are You Prepared?

Even if you’ve never been in a car accident, you’ll save yourself worlds of hassle with just a little preparation.  Knowing what actions to take and not take is a crucial part of protecting yourself in case that unlucky day ever comes.  And equipping yourself with up-to-date insurance papers, a pen, paper and even a handy Auto Accident Report Folder for your vehicle can put you miles ahead when it comes to accident awareness.  Contact our agency for your Auto Accident Report Folder.

CAR INSURANCE FOR TEENS
Top 10 Ways to Get the Best Rates on Auto Insurance for Teenagers

You don’t have to be one of those parents doling out more than $2,500 each year just so your teen driver can be on the road. Sure, the National Safety Council found that teen car insurance for a girl will cause the family car insurance to double and for a boy it will likely to triple, but there are ways to keep your rates low in spite of those statistics. How? Here are the top 10 tactics to lower insurance for teens:

1. Drive a Used Car. Used cars are cheaper to insure than new ones, so hit up the used car lot.
2. Safe Over Sporty. If purchasing a car for your teenage driver, choose a safe sedan over a flashy convertible.     Luxury and sports cars are more expensive to insure. 
3. Assign a Specific Car. If your teen is going to be driving one of your cars, ask the insurance company if they’ll let you assign them to a specific one. Again, the luxury car would be the more expensive choice because it costs more to insure.
4. Don’t be a Statistic. According to the National Safety Council, 16 year olds are three times as likely to wind up in a crash than 19 year olds – and almost six times higher than 20-24 year olds. Stay off your cell phone, wear your seatbelt and drive safely.
5. 6-Month Rule. Every six months, check in with your insurance company and update your policy information to make sure you are getting the best teen car insurance rates.
6. Shop Around. Comparing teen auto insurance prices will save you a ton of dough.
7. Take a defensive driving course. Many insurance companies offer discounts to teens who take (and pass!) an approved defensive driving course.
8. Save by Paying. Sometimes, the method of payment you use can save you money. A simple change to monthly auto pay can create savings when dealing with auto insurance for teens.
9. Be a good student. Getting a B average (3.0 GPA) or higher will score students under the age of 25 cheaper teen car insurance rates.
10. Keep it in the family. You can save up to 25% on premiums with multi-car, multi-policy and financial responsibility discounts reducing the costs greatly with car insurance for teenager drivers.