Your world has just flipped upside down, possibly literally, and you’re walking out of the haze of a car accident. What do you do next? Hopefully, you’re reading this before you actually get in an accident so you’ll know what to do.

Unfortunately, car accidents happen all too often in Columbia, SC, but Michael Taylor Agency is here to help every step of the way. Obviously, the very first order of business is to check and make sure everyone is okay and call 911 if needed. Safety is the number one concern, so after you have checked on everyone, move your vehicle out of the roadway and into a safe place if possible.

Once the scene is safe and emergency personnel are on the scene, then it’s time to start thinking about insurance. No matter who is at fault, you need to make it your responsibility to gather all the information needed- don’t rely on someone else to get everything. You’ll need to get some information from the other driver, including their name, their insurance information, their license plate number, the make and model of their car, and their vehicle identification number (VIN). You should also make sure you get the names of any responding officers at the scene.

It’s also really important to take note of what the scene looks like and take some pictures. Make sure you know where exactly the accident took place and take pictures of the cars involved, the damage, and the surrounding area.

Once you’ve done all that and gathered information, you’ll be ready to file an insurance claim. Contact Michael Insurance Agency, serving Columbia, SC, once you’re ready to make your insurance claim and we will take care of you from there.