Six Steps to take AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT!

Six Steps to take after a Car Accident

Taking the time now to plan what to do if you are in an auto accident can help get you back on the road faster. Doing a few things at the scene of an accident can help you avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes. Here are several useful tips from the experts at West Loop Auto Body in Chicago that you should remember if you're in an accident. You may even want to keep these tips in your vehicle's glove compartment.

1. STAY SAFE! Make sure your car and any other vehicles are as far off the roadway as possible. Warn oncoming traffic by activating your hazard warning lights.

2. CALL THE POLICE! Call 911 to report the accident. Even if you just had a fender bender, call the police so they can document who was involved; they'll decide whether an accident report is necessary.

3. TAKE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE! With technology today you can take pictures of the scene of accident with your picture phone. Make sure you get pictures of all damage that happen as a result of the accident. Get pictures of all vehicles involved including license plate number.

4. CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE AND REPORT THE CLAIM! The sooner your insurance company knows about the accident, the sooner it can start working to resolve your claim.

5. STICK TO THE FACTS! Discuss the accident only with the police and your insurance company. Be honest and factual! Avoid guessing or speculating on times, distances or speeds if you're unsure.

6. EXCHANGE VITAL INFORMATION WITH THE OTHER DRIVER! Write down the name, address, phone number and license numbers of all drivers and witnesses. Ask each for the name of his or her insurer and policy number. Your insurer might need to speak with them to determine who's at fault for the accident. Your insurance company will want to know if the police responded or if anyone was injured. Also, get details about the other cars involved, taking note of whether the cars were damaged and if so, where the damage occurred.

7. CONSIDER ALL YOUR REPAIR OPTIONS! Once you've figured out all of the details at the scene, you'll need to consider your next steps. With West Loop Auto Body you can choose the most convenient way to have your claim handled. Our A+ rating with the BBB gives you assurance that we will care for your every need. With Towing and Enterprise Rent-A-Car on location; we can have you back on the road quicker than most other body shops. West Loop Auto Body will work with your insurance company to make the repair process is smooth and headache free.

For more useful auto and FAQ's, visit us at www.westloopauto.com

Until we collide again!
Tony "the car guy" Morice
General Manager
West Loop Auto Body

Medicines can impair driving!!

Medicine and driving do not mix!

Some prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and herbal or alternative remedies can be as intoxicating as having a couple of alcoholic drinks. The AAA foundation of Traffic Safety reported that 78 percent of drivers older than 55 take medications, but only one in four understands how drugs can impact their driving. Like alcohol, medicines can cause side effects that impair driving, such as sleepiness, slowed movement, blurred vision, dizziness, fainting, excitability, nausea and inability to focus or pay attention.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the effects of prescribed medications on driving. If you must take medications that could impair driving, your health care professional may be able to:

• adjust the dosage;
• adjust the timing of the doses;
• add an exercise or nutrition program to lessen the need for medicine;
• change the medicine to that causes fewer side effects.

West Loop Auto Body is here for you and your vehicle. If you need a tow - let us know and we will be there shortly with one of our state of the art tow trucks. Call us at 866-738-1975 or check us out on the web at www.westloopauto.com. Serving chicagoland since 1950!

* article contributed from AAA Living Feb 2010