What steps should I take after a vehicle accident?
Being involved in a car accident can be scary and dangerous. It can also do significant damage to your vehicle – some of which is immediately apparent, and some that may show up as an issue weeks or months later. If you have been in an accident, help get your car back running safely by checking taking these steps that help you discover and fix possible damage for much cheaper than overpriced auto-shops and dealership technicians.
1. Contact Your Insurance Company
Contacting your insurance is a very important first step in the process of getting your car repaired after an accident. You need to notify them about the accident and provide them with pictures and as much information as possible about what happened and report obvious damage. You should also notify them that you will begin checking other areas of your vehicle’s engine and parts for hidden damage, as they may have a required process for how you need to complete this. It will be important for you to follow their guidelines in order to receive any possible compensation for the repairs to your vehicle.2. Reset Airbag Module
If your airbags deployed during the accident, you will need to replace them with a new airbags. You will also need to check and possibly reset or replace your airbag module so that they will function correctly in the future. You will additionally need to check and possibly replace the clockspring plugs as they may have melted in the burst of energy required to deploy the steering wheel airbag. Even if they didn’t deploy they could still be damaged. This could leave you at risk if you get into another accident and they aren’t working correctly. Check your airbag lights in your dashboard to ensure that the airbag system is working and that they aren’t blinking which could signify an error code.Start Your Airbag Module Reset Order Today!
3. Repair Seat belts
Seat belts are a required safety feature in your car and one of the most basic aspects keeping you safe and protected in an accident. If your seat belts are not functioning properly after your car accident, they will not be as effective in protecting you and your passengers. Check to make sure all your seat belts retract and release as they should and fit comfortably – not too snug or too loosely. They should also lock and unlock with the brakes, if they don’t they may have suffered damage and need to be repaired. Most often after an accident, seat belts freeze in whatever position they were in. An example of this is the person who was in an accident without their seat belt on: when the Police arrive the person is normally still trying to put their seat belt on, but can't, because the seat belt is frozen in place "unfastened". So, in >90% of all accidents the Fire & Rescue professionals will always know if you had your seat belt on, so always wear your seat belt and always replace frozen seat belts.Start Your Seat Belt Order Today!