Car with accident: What to do after the accident?

It's very likely that when you took out insurance you heard the term "car in accident."

But do you know what a claim really means and what to do in the event of an accident?

In today's post, we'll help you better understand what it means to have a car in an accident and all the details on how to act throughout the process.

What is a car with an accident?

A damaged car is a vehicle that has suffered significant damage, usually due to a traffic accident, and has been considered a total loss by the insurer.

Therefore, when a car is considered to be in an accident, it means that the repair costs are higher than the market value of the vehicle.

Therefore, the insurance company pays compensation to the vehicle owner, instead of paying for the repair.

Once a vehicle has been declared a wrecked car, it can usually be purchased by companies specializing in wrecked car auctions.

These companies repair and resell the vehicle, however it is always important to be careful when purchasing a car with an accident, as there may be some problems that are not apparent.

Therefore, when purchasing a car with an accident, it is ideal to request a report and evaluate the vehicle's entire history before making the purchase.

What are the most common types of claims?

There are several types of accidents that can affect your car, depending on the circumstances.

However, some of the most common types of cars with accidents are:

• Collision: In this case, it could be a collision between two cars or a car hitting an object or fixed structure, causing significant damage;
• Theft: This is when the car is stolen and not recovered;
• Fire: The claim is made when the car is damaged or even destroyed by a fire;
• Flooding: When the car is damaged by a flood or high water;
• Vandalism: In this case, the claim is made when the car is intentionally damaged by acts of vandalism, such as broken windows, scratches or even graffiti;
• Falling objects: In the event that the car is damaged by objects such as tree branches, stones and the like that fall on it;
• Natural events: When the car is damaged by events such as heavy rain, strong winds or hail for example;
• Accidents with animals: When the car collides with some type of animal and damages the vehicle;
• Explosion: In this case, the car is damaged or even destroyed by an explosion caused by gas, for example.

These cases are just a few examples of car accidents that can happen.

Therefore, it is important to be aware of all the risks and be prepared to deal with these situations, through adequate insurance or even taking preventive measures to avoid the loss.

It is worth remembering that when taking out insurance, you should check all the clauses set out in the contract with your insurance agent.

Not all policies cover all types of claims, and they will vary depending on the insurance chosen.

Therefore, to avoid surprises, confirm all information before purchasing your insurance.

How to act at the time of an accident?

If you are involved in a traffic accident and need to file a claim, the first thing to do is act calmly and follow a few steps to keep everyone involved safe.

This way, you will be able to file a claim in the best possible way.

So, find out what steps you should follow:

• Check your safety and that of everyone involved, and if anyone is injured, call emergency services immediately;
• If possible, move the car off the track to a safe location to avoid another accident, but if this is not possible, signal the location appropriately;
• To start the claim, write down some information such as:
  • Name;
  • Address;
  • Telephone;
  • License plate and insurance for all involved;
  • Model, year and color of cars;
  • If there are witnesses, ask for their names and contact details;
• Take photos of the accident scene and the damage to the cars involved;
• Then call your insurance company and report the accident, follow the instructions and provide all the information requested by the insurance company to make the claim;
• If the police are not present at the scene, file an accident report and keep a copy;

Therefore, by following these initial steps, you will be able to ensure the safety of everyone involved, document the details, and expedite the process of claiming a car with the insurance company.

But remember that this is not a rule, each situation is unique and the important thing is to follow your insurer's guidelines for dealing with the claim.

How do I activate car insurance for an accident?

If you have car insurance, follow these steps to activate the insurance and make a claim:

• Contact the insurance company

Inform the insurance company immediately after the accident that led to the car claim.

This contact can be made by phone or online, depending on the option offered by the company;

• Provide information

During contact, you will need to provide all details regarding the car accident, such as date, time, location, and details of the accident.

As well as the name, address and telephone number of everyone involved;

• Vehicle information

You will also need to provide information about the vehicles involved, such as model, year, license plate, chassis number and all insurance information;

• Evidence of the loss

In some cases, you may be asked to provide evidence of the accident, such as photos of the accident scene, a repair estimate, or a police report that may prove the car's accident.

Therefore, follow all instructions requested by the insurer and provide the necessary information.

The insurance company may send an appraiser to inspect the damage to the car and determine whether the insurance covers the claim.

Depending on the circumstances, the vehicle will be sent to a repair center authorized by the insurance company to obtain a repair estimate.

Therefore, once the quote is approved, the insurer will cover the repair costs or compensate the owner in the event of a total loss of the vehicle.

But it is worth remembering that this is in accordance with the clauses established in your insurance policy.

Since each situation is unique and making a car claim may vary depending on the circumstances.

What to do if the car is not insured?

One situation that may occur is that you are involved in a traffic accident and do not have insurance to make a claim on your car.

Therefore, what may happen in this case is that you will have to bear all the costs, repairs and expenses yourself.

However, there are some possibilities that can be taken into consideration.

• Paying for the costs of the accident: If you are responsible for the accident, you will need to bear all the costs, yours and those of others involved.

That's why it's important to try to reach a fair agreement that's beneficial to all parties, since there's no insurance company to handle the car accident and cover the expenses.

• Seek legal help: In a more extreme case, if an amicable agreement cannot be reached, you may need to seek legal help.

In this case, a negotiation process or legal action will be opened depending on the severity of the accident.

Another important thing to do is to register the BO (Police Report), regardless of whether you have insurance to make a car claim or not.

Some insurance companies even require a police report before a claim can be filed, which can be done easily online.

How to sell a car with an accident?

An important thing to know is that a car with an accident can be sold.

Once the damaged car has been restored and is in good working order without any scratches, you can sell it.

Therefore, the damaged car undergoes an inspection to determine whether it is in a condition to be sold as a whole or just for parts.

So, here are some tips on how to sell a car with a claim:

• Know the local laws: It is important to act within the law when selling your car with an accident. Although it is permitted, there are some laws that must be followed;
• Evaluate the value: It is essential to evaluate the selling value of a car with an accident, as it will be lower than the value of a car without damage, simulate the value and compare prices;
• Disclose the history: You must disclose an honest history of all damage and repairs made.

This will help you when selling and avoid legal problems in the future.

• Consider repairs: Depending on the severity of the damage, it may be worth making repairs before putting the damaged car up for sale;
• Find the right buyer: Selling a damaged car can be a daunting task, but consider offering it to dealerships or resellers that offer repair services.

But don't forget that when selling a car with an accident, it's important to be honest about the vehicle's history.

And if you don't feel comfortable selling a damaged car privately, there's still the possibility of selling it to scrap yards or specialized workshops.

Tips to avoid accidents

However, the ideal way to avoid all this headache related to a car in accident is to be careful and pay attention to traffic to avoid accidents.

Therefore, here are some measures you can take, such as:

• Be aware of traffic laws;
• Keep your vehicle maintenance up to date;
• Keep a safe distance;
• Pay attention to your surroundings;
• Respect the weather conditions;
• Among others.

Conclusion

If you have an accident or a car that has been damaged, try to complete all procedures with the insurance company and resolve everything in the best possible way.

And don't forget that driving safety should always come first, so be sure to follow our tips for safer driving to avoid having to deal with an accident.