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What to Do If You’re in an Accident

Pull Over After an Accident

If your car is functional, calmly pull off the road to a safe location. It is incredibly important to be safe at this point to avoid any additional accidents. If you need to protect the area or if you are out at night, road flares are a great option to use.

Call the Police and Exchange Information

You may call the police in order to file an accident report. While they are en-route, exchange information with the involved parties, such as the drivers, passengers and witnesses. Try to be calm and collected. It is extremely frustrating, embarrassing and angering to be in an accident, but if parties try to remain calm and communicative, the process will be much less painful.

Information to gather and share is:

  • First and last names
  • Phone numbers
  • Addresses
  • Insurance for cars involved

Ask for Witness Statements

If there was anyone who saw the accident, ask them for a summary of what they saw. Don’t forget to gather their information and provide them yours.

Talk to the Police

When the police arrive to speak to both parties, tell them exactly what happened. If you do not know or can’t remember, be honest and tell them that. If they ask if you’re injured, but you don’t feel pain, tell them you don’t know. Frequently, injuries do not manifest until hours later.

Make Your Insurance Claim and Call Us

After you’ve gotten home and made calls to your friends and family, file a claim with your insurance. After you get your claim, give us a call or fill out our estimation form on our website. In California, you have the right to choose your preferred body shop. Your insurance provider will offer their preferred collision repair and body shop, but you are allowed to choose Burnside. We can handle everything from the tow truck to the rental car. We will also handle any information with the insurance.

Your Vehicle is in the Shop

When you leave your vehicle with us, know that it is in safe hands. We will take care of your vehicle with utmost care. We also communicate with you through each step of the process and are flexible enough to communicate with you by your preferred method – call, text or email.

Need auto body work done now? Give us a call at (209) 521-6570 or fill out our estimation form on our website.