Last Updated on February 5, 2024 by John Robinson
Car accidents can happen anytime. Sometimes, the road can be unpredictable, and even if you do your best to abide by the traffic rules, other drivers may take actions that affect you and your vehicle, putting you at risk. For example, in 2022, there were 95,014 car accidents in Colorado alone. To recover some of the damages, victims had to work with a Colorado car accident lawyer.
More often than not, car wrecks lead to car damage that requires a lot of money to fix. How can you restore your car following an accident, though? Here are 7 steps that you should take after such an unfortunate event.
1. Assess the Vehicle’s Damage
After the accident, the first thing you need to do is get medical attention. You may have been injured without realizing it, so having a medical professional there as soon as possible is necessary.
Now, once you’ve received the medical care, you should start assessing the damage to your vehicle. In some instances, the destruction may be obvious, especially when the collision was severe.
At the same time, there are damages that are harder to see, which is why you should carefully inspect every part of the car even if you don’t see anything right away.
2. Gather Proof of the Damage
You’ll have to document the damage while still at the accident scene. Otherwise, the other party may claim that the damage was either already there before the crash or that it occurred after the incident.
If your phone is still in good condition, use it to take pictures and videos of the visible damage. You can also write down everything you see if you don’t have access to a camera. Witnesses can also take photos for you in this situation.
3. Submit Your Claim
After inspecting the car, make sure to submit an insurance claim. It’s critical to reach out to the insurance company as soon as possible so you can get the case started fast. This is especially important considering claims aren’t always approved immediately.
Furthermore, if you submit the claim earlier, you will also deal with fewer costs.
4. Have Your Vehicle Towed
Moving your vehicle becomes mandatory after an accident. First of all, you want to make sure you’re not blocking traffic. At the same time, you should have your car inspected by a professional. For this to be possible, you must take the vehicle to a safe place.
Now, you may sometimes still be able to drive the vehicle home if the damage didn’t affect its functionality. In this case, you can take it home, then have it collected from there for inspection. If it’s impossible for you to drive, you can simply call a towing company. Your insurance company may recommend one or you can search online for such a business.
5. Get Your Vehicle Inspected
After the accident, you should have the car inspected by someone who can determine if the vehicle is damaged beyond repair or not. Then, you can get a recommendation for an auto repair shop that you can reach out to in order to get the vehicle fixed.
You can also get an estimate of the repair costs and find out how much the insurance company will cover. Then, you can figure out how to use the insurance money to restore the car.
6. Work With a Reputable Repair Shop
If you want your car to get properly restored, then you must work with someone qualified for the job. Too many repair shops have people who aren’t experts, and you should avoid them if you want to still enjoy your beloved vehicle.
So, look around for repair shops in the area and opt for a reputable one. They will use high-quality materials and services, ensuring the safety and functionality of your vehicle.
7. Have the Car Inspected Again
Get the car assessed again to make sure everything works perfectly after the repairs. You don’t want to take the car back only to realize it still has various issues. By checking it again, you can rest assured that the restoration was successful.
The Bottom Line
You’re very lucky if you’re still able to restore your car after an accident. If you were injured, make sure to seek medical care first and reach out to a personal injury law firm to work on getting compensation. Then, in order to have your car fixed, collaborate with your insurance company and find a reputable repair shop to take care of the damage.