5 Questions You Should Ask After a Car Accident

June 12, 2024

What Questions Should You Ask After a Car Accident? Hamilton Collision Repair Experts Explain!

post car accident questions and concerns in Hamilton Ontario explained by collision repair experts

If you got into a car crash, there are 5 crucial things you should ask right away. These 5 things are contact information, vehicle information, witness information, your own photos/documentation, and lastly the police report.

Even if you’re at fault and the collision is your doing, asking these 5 things and gathering all the information will help you and your lawyer in court. Being honest with police and all parties involved is best, but if you’re worried about what your lawyer might say if you admit fault, it’s better to say nothing at all than to lie.

If you’re not at fault, asking these 5 things and getting all the information will be useful with court and your insurance company. The more information you can gather to prove your innocence the better. Now let’s go down the list of 5 things you should ask after a car accident one by one.

#1 - Contact information: Avoid anger and calmly approach the other vehicles involved in the collision. This is why it’s a good idea to always have pen and paper in your car, because you can write down the name, the phone number, the home address, email and all other information of the drivers you can gather. If you’re unable to gather such information for whatever reason, then you should definitely try to gather the next thing – vehicle information.

#2 - Vehicle information: Record the manufacture, model and color of all vehicles in the collision, as well as all the license plate numbers if possible. Even if you’re unable to gather the contact information of those involved, having their vehicle information is enough for police to confirm their identity.

#3 - Witness information: If others were present at the time of the collision, there’s a good chance some are still around. Ask if any of them have any information that you’re missing, such as license plate numbers and what color the traffic light was, for instance. Other witnesses could include camera footage, all of which if collected would greatly improve your case in court if you're not at fault.

#4 - Photos and documentation: Even if the car that hit you is speeding away, take a photo of it! Take a photo of the damage of your car, and journal the events of the collision while it’s fresh in your mind, even if all you an do is text the info to yourself or a friend in the moment. Document as many details as possible, such as how fast you were going, what way you were turning, how long you had before you knew you were about to get into an accident, if you had no idea at all, etc. The more information you can record now the less you’ll have to think about it later, and the more resources you’ll have to ensure your case is dealt with fairly.

#5 - Police report: This won’t be available right away, but by securing the police report detailing your car accident you’ll have heads up you need to clarify anything that is incorrect before the case is taken to court, and it will also give your lawyer the knowledge they need to adjust their case. And don’t just let your lawyer read the police report for you. Sit down and read it carefully, even if you need some coffee and jazz music. There’s a good chance the police weren’t there to watch the accident happen, so if anything in the report is wrong you’ll be the best person to correct it, especially if you followed the previous steps and have all the evidence you need to prove it.

Getting into a car accident is never nice, unless you drive in a demolition derby. Although things might be stressful now, thing’s will soon be back to normal, especially if you followed these 5 steps diligently. It may take a few months for your car to get repaired and for the insurance company to pay for it, but it’ll be over nonetheless. Keep your chin up, and drive safe.

If you need futher help with questions or your collision repair, contact Tip Top Auto Body today by calling (647) 559-5120.

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The Tip Top Blog

Avoid Car Collisions in Ontario With These 5 Safe Driving Tips

October 9, 2024

Avoid car collisions with these 5 ultimate safe driving tips designed for Hamilton's driving conditions: Hello, I'm a proud auto mechanic working here at Tip Top Auto Body in Hamilton, Ontario. We all think we’re the best drivers in whatever cities we live in. At least I did before I started using these safe driving tips. Through stormy weather and sunny off-road trails, these safe driving tips have gotten me through the worst possible scenarios, allowing me to prevent collisions and expensive auto body repair bills. And now I’m going to pass along these tips to you. #1. Before embarking on a road trip or a long drive to the next town to visit relatives, you should always look at the weather report and road condition report. Knowing if a storm is coming or if a highway is backed up with traffic is extremely useful when choosing your route and preparing for the journey. For example, if you know heavy snow has caused an accident on the highway, you can either wait for the storm to abide or adjust your route to avoid the traffic jam. It should also go without saying that avoiding stormy driving conditions and busy highways also helps you prevent car accidents. #2. Respect the speed limit. It may feel torturous when everyone is going 30km per hour through a school zone, but there are good reasons these speed limits are in place. Most car accidents are caused when at least one car is going over the speed limit. It may be because the road is swervey or there are hidden driveways, but, whatever the case, following speed limits will surely decrease your chances of ever getting into a collision with another car. #3. Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you. You won’t always have control over how close the car behind you is, but by creating a safe distance between your car and the one in front of you, you’ll be able to come to a stop safely if needed, which will hopefully allow you to come to a stop gradually and also prevent the car behind you from rear-ending you. #4. Maintain your vehicle. If your breaks have lost their rubber pads and are grinding against your rotors, that’s probably a good sign to take your shop in for a safety inspection. You don’t want to be sliding down a road covered in black ice without proper breaks! Getting an inspection on your car done every time you get an oil change, which should be every six months, is the easiest way to make sure your care is safe for the road. For all you know, one loose bolt could be the difference between a collision and making it home safely. #5. This last tip is one you won’t find on most safe driving tip lists. One of the easiest ways to stay safe on the road and avoid car accidents is to stick to routes and parking lots that you’re familiar with. If you take the same route to work every day, it might get dull after a while, but so long as you drive with the same level of caution on a daily basis, your familiarity with the road will give you an upper hand. You’ll know where the correct off ramp is so you don’t need to merge aggressively. You’ll know where all the hidden driveways are so you can slow down around corners correctly. You’ll know what times of day certain streets are busy and what parking lots to avoid. Knowing all this will make you an informed driver, and informed drivers cause less accidents than confused ones. Just don’t make the mistake of becoming so confident in your route that you no longer drive with caution. Even if you know a route like the back of your hand, you should follow the above tips and pay attention. We hope these 5 ultimate tips for driving more safely in Hamilton serves you well. If you ever happen to need auto body services, feel free to stop by at Tip Top Auto Body during our open hours. We'd be delighted to see you!

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