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4 Ways Your Smart Phone Can Help You After A Fender Bender

20 April 2015 by Yolanda Lane

If you're like millions of other people, you carry your smart phone with you at all times. When you've just been in a minor car accident, your phone can be a valuable tool in making sure that you can gather important information for your insurance claim or build a case against the other driver.

Here are four ways that your smart phone can help you after your fender bender:

1. Calling the Police

Immediately following the accident, it may not even occur to you to call the police to come out to the site if you aren't injured. However, the police can compile an objective report that details what the site looks like and get statements from you and the other driver. Don't wait for the other driver to call the police; make the call yourself.

2. Documenting the Scene

Your smart phone's camera becomes incredibly useful after you have had an accident. As time goes on, your memories about the accident may fade, but your camera can capture a lot of information. Take photos of any damage to the cars, as well as pictures of the road if there are any skid-marks. The pictures can be helpful when trying to determine fault and severity of the damage. Be sure to stay safe as you take these photos; don't put your safety at risk by standing in the middle of rush hour traffic, for example.

After you're done taking pictures, look for anyone who may have witnessed what happened. Ask them to make a short statement and take a video of them with your phone. Their statements may be able to back up your version of events. Of course, do not videotape anyone without their position.

3. Getting the Other Driver's Information

When you and the other driver exchange numbers and insurance information, it's much easier to snap a few photos instead. That way, you can be sure that you didn't transcribe anything incorrectly.

4. Calling Your Insurance Company

Another call you need to make from your phone is to your insurance company. The sooner you contact them, the sooner they can get to work processing your claim. If you have suffered minor injuries, some insurance companies will not cover medical costs until you have already talked to them about your accident, so calling them from the scene can help you.

Now that you know how much your phone can assist you after you've been in a minor car accident, be sure to make sure that your phone is charged and with you whenever you get in your car. If you have had a fender bender, pass on all relevant files to your accident lawyer so that you can build a stronger claim or case for yourself.

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