What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

Few things are so terrifying, and yet so strangely commonplace, as getting into a crash or collision in a vehicle. Whether you drive a car, truck, or SUV, the results are often the same: a sudden rush of adrenaline, worry about the wellbeing of everyone involved, and then a prolonged sense of, “What do I do now?” Here at Romeoville Toyota, we are pleased to offer collision repair in Romeoville for all of our customers. This is about more than just peace of mind or getting your car fixed; it’s about having someone you can trust to help you when you need it.

As you might expect, we get a lot of questions from our customers about what they should do after a collision. We should mention that we’re not a law firm, so please remember that nothing we suggest is actual legal advice or a recommendation about the law. If you have concerns about the legal consequences of a crash––including liability and insurance issues––then we strongly recommend you talk to a licensed attorney who can help you take the proper steps to protect yourself. When it comes to your vehicle and getting back on the road as quickly as possible, then we are the ones to call.

First Steps: Vehicle Inspection

Once the dust has settled after a crash, one of the most important things you need to do is determine exactly what sort of condition your vehicle is in. This requires an inspection from a trained professional who understands not only how to look at the direct damage from a collision, but also how to find any secondary issues and hidden damage. From the outside, it’s easy to look at damage to the bumper or front-end of the body and think it’s all just on the surface level. In reality, however, the force of an impact can potentially go beyond what you can see and cause damage to electrical or mechanical components that aren’t as easy to check.

You need to have the inspection performed by a trained professional who is certified to handle auto collision repairs. That might seem like a hassle, but if you want your insurance to cover any of the repairs that are needed for your vehicle, then they’re going to expect it. Depending on your insurance company, you might have to have one of their actual adjusters perform the inspection on your vehicle, though most companies will let you have it handled by a partnered service center or auto body shop that is properly certified. Here at Romeoville Toyota, our Direct Repair accredited auto body shop can handle the inspection and work with your insurance company for you, so you have less to worry about.

There are two very important reasons to have this inspection done properly: first, the insurance issue, as we’ve mentioned, and second, ensuring your vehicle is safe to drive. After a collision, you need to be able to get back to your routine: running errands, getting to work, etc. The last thing you want is to start driving again and discover that your vehicle is leaking oil or that the brakes have been damaged. This can result in another crash and potentially serious injuries or damage––and the legal consequences of getting into a collision after not having an inspection would be disastrous.

Options after a Collision

Once you’ve had an inspection done on your vehicle, then you’re going to have a couple basic options available to you. If the damage was essentially all cosmetic, and your vehicle is completely safe to continue driving, then you might be able to wait on repairs. Just remember that it’s possible an inspection might miss something, and letting any damage remain can still lead to further problems down the road. Even cosmetic damage can throw off your car’s handling, create more options for rust and corrosion, or cause other issues.

On the other hand, if the damage to your vehicle is more extensive, then you’re going to need to have repairs done to get your ride back in safe shape. This is the point where a lot of people can start to panic because the costs are often an extra source of stress. Having someone to help you figure these things out and work with you and your insurance company makes everything a lot easier and eliminates much of this anxiety.

What to Expect for Repairs

The cost of repairs will really depend on the kind of damage your vehicle sustained and what’s needed to get it safely back on the road. Your out-of-pocket expenses will also vary a lot depending on the service center you choose, their working relationship with insurance companies, and the kind of insurance coverage you have. All of these factors and variables can make things very confusing, which is why you deserve to have a service center that specializes in auto repairs after a crash. It will help take the worry and hassle out of the process.

No matter what your vehicle needs, the repairs are going to take some time––it might only be a few days, or it could take a couple weeks to have the work done. Again, this all depends on the severity of the crash and what kind of damage was done to your car. Even fairly minor repairs that only take a couple days can still upend your whole life and leave you scrambling to figure out how to get to work and take care of other daily tasks.

When you work with certified and experienced service professionals, however, these kinds of problems become much easier to handle––we’ve been through it all many times before. At Romeoville Toyota, we offer loaner vehicles to get you back on the road right away so that you can have your car, truck, or SUV fixed up without ever skipping a beat. Depending on the vehicle you have, your insurance, and other factors, you might have the cost of this sort of loaner covered, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. These are all factors that we will help you figure out so that you can focus on what really matters: getting back to enjoying your life.

Long-Term Considerations

Once the details for getting your vehicle back on the road are all figured out, then it’s important to keep a few things in mind going forward. For starters, there’s a good chance that the collision will cause your insurance rates to increase, even if it wasn’t your fault, so plan for that as you’re figuring out your budget. You might have to cover some of the costs for repairs, again depending on the details of what happened, and these are details we’ll help you figure out. It’s also going to be very important that you follow the proper service schedule for your vehicle after the repairs are done to ensure there aren’t any other long-term problems or issues.

Finally, it’s a great idea to use a collision as an opportunity to remember the responsibility that comes with driving a car. All of us can benefit from slowing down a bit and driving more carefully on the road. Minor collisions are a great reminder that more-serious crashes happen every day and that we all need to do our part to keep each other safe. Plus, this can be a good time to consider the safety features on your car and think about what options you don’t have that might’ve helped you avoid the collision. Then, when you’re shopping for your next vehicle, keep these things in mind and choose a model that will help protect you and your loved ones.