Get safe first
Turn on your hazard lights. If anyone is hurt, call 911 and leave the cars where they are.
If nobody is hurt and both cars can drive, move them out of traffic to a side street or a parking lot. Sitting in a lane on Wilshire, Western, or Olympic is dangerous, even for a few minutes.
Take photos before anything moves
Use your phone. Start with wide shots that show both cars and where they sit in the road, then get close-ups of every point of contact, both license plates, and any debris on the ground. Photograph the street signs at the nearest intersection too.
Do this before you get into a conversation with the other driver. Once cars get moved and people start talking, the scene changes and memories change with it.
Trade information and keep fault out of it
Get the other driver's name, phone number, insurance company, policy number, license plate, and driver's license number, and give them yours.
Don't say "I'm sorry" or "I think I was going too fast." A reflexive apology can be read as admitting fault later. If the other driver wants to argue about whose fault it was, stay calm and tell them the insurance companies will sort it out.
If anyone saw the accident, ask for their name and number. One witness can settle a dispute where it's your word against theirs.
When to call the police
For a minor collision with no injuries where both drivers have insurance, you usually don't need police at the scene. Call LAPD, or 911 for emergencies, in these situations:
- Anyone is hurt, even if they say they feel fine
- The other driver won't give you their information
- You think the other driver is impaired
- The cars are blocking the road or creating a hazard
- The other driver has no insurance, or the car may be stolen
- It was a hit-and-run
Talking to the officer
Stick to what happened. "I was driving north on Western when the other car merged into my lane" is a fact. "It was his fault" is an opinion, and the officer will write down what they observe anyway. If the other driver gets a ticket, that report helps your claim.
Depending on injuries and the amount of damage, California may also require you to report the accident to the DMV. Check the DMV's SR-1 form so you don't miss it.
Calling your insurance company
Call your insurer from the scene or as soon as you get home. Waiting days gives the other side time to tell their version first.
Opening the claim takes very little. Say you were in a collision, give the date, time, and place, and tell them you're still gathering information and the car hasn't been inspected yet. Then hold off on these:
- Giving a recorded statement about fault on the first call
- Saying the accident was your fault, or that you "might have" caused it
- Agreeing to any settlement amount
- Giving permission to contact your doctor
You can ask for time before a recorded statement
It's normal to say you aren't ready to give a recorded statement today and that you want your repair shop to look at the car before you discuss the damage. A good claims rep will note that and move on.
Write down the claim number before you hang up. Every call after that starts with it.
Get a shop estimate before the adjuster sees the car
The insurance company's appraiser works for the insurance company. That doesn't make them dishonest, but their first number is often low, and the hidden damage behind a bumper usually isn't on it.
When a repair shop looks at the car first, the estimate reflects what it actually takes to put the car back the way it was, with the right parts. Hidden damage gets written down early. It's easier to work from that number than to find missed damage halfway through the repair.
Our estimates are free. Text photos of the damage and your VIN, or bring the car by. If you have State Farm, we're in their Direct Repair Program, and we're Geico Drive-Thru approved. We work with every other carrier as well, and we deal with the adjuster and the supplements so you don't have to.
Koreatown situations we see all the time
Language barriers at the scene. If you and the other driver can't understand each other well, keep it simple: swap documents, take photos, and let the insurance companies talk. Don't let confusion push you into signing something or agreeing to anything out loud. Our shop speaks English, Spanish, Korean, and Portuguese, so once the car is here we can go over the claim with you in your language.
A driver with no insurance. If the other driver says they don't have insurance, or asks you to keep insurance out of it, don't agree on the spot. Get their information anyway, take photos, and call your own insurer. If your policy includes uninsured motorist coverage, that's what it's for. You don't have to settle privately to protect someone else.
Hit-and-run. If someone hit your parked car and drove off, file a police report. LAPD's non-emergency line is 1-877-ASK-LAPD (877-275-5273). You'll need the report number for your claim. Even a parking lot scrape can hide damage to bumper supports, sensors, or paint that looks fine from the outside, so have someone look at it before you decide whether to file.
The intersections that get people. We see a lot of cars from Wilshire and Western, 6th and Vermont, and Olympic and Normandie. They're busy with pedestrians and drivers cutting across lanes, and left turns across Wilshire at rush hour are especially risky. If your accident happened at one of them, file a report promptly so everything is on record.
Mistakes that cost people money
Taking cash at the scene. The other driver offers a few hundred dollars to keep it off insurance. It's tempting when the damage looks small. But once you take the cash and walk away, you can't go back when you find out the bumper reinforcement is cracked or the backup camera stopped working. If you're thinking about settling privately, at least get a written shop estimate first.
Waiting too long to report. Most policies require you to notify your insurer promptly. Waiting a week to see if your neck pain goes away is how claims get complicated. Report it, open the claim, then see how you feel.
Assuming what you see is all there is. Bumpers on newer cars hide radar sensors, cameras, and crush zones. A bumper that looks like it needs a little paint can need sensor replacement and recalibration once it comes apart.
Thinking you have to use the insurer's shop. In California, you choose where your car gets repaired. Your insurer can recommend a shop, but it can't require you to use it.
We're right here on Western
Western Ave Auto Body is at 150 S Western Ave, between 1st and 2nd Street. We're I-CAR Gold Class, family-owned since 1988, and open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. If you just had a fender bender and aren't sure what comes next, start with a free estimate. Text us photos and your VIN tonight, or bring the car in.
