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Car with hood and bumper damage.No one wants to have a car accident. But sometimes, despite our best efforts at safe driving, the unfortunate occurs. Whether an accident is caused by another car, an animal, or a patch of ice, every driver should be ready to handle the situation and properly document any damage for insurance purposes. Here are some tips to help you prepare.

What do I place in my accident kit?

To help prepare for an accident in case the unfortunate happens, create an accident kit to leave in your glove box.

  • The auto accident form has what to do when you are in an accident and important information you will need to collect.
  • A disposable camera to take pictures of the accident scene, your vehicle and all other vehicles involved. If necessary, also take pictures of the road, any skid marks, blocked road signs, etc. Be sure to take note of any contributing factors, like weather conditions and road conditions.
  • A pen to write down the important information you collect from other vehicles involved in the accident.
  • A notepad in case you need to write down more information. You may want to make a few copies of the important information section in case several vehicles are involved.
  • Flashlight to improve visibility at night or in bad weather.

What should I do if I am in an accident?

Should a customer end up in the unfortunate situation of an accident, they should follow the check list below of things to do and use the important information section to collect information from other vehicles involved.

Follow these guidelines, if you ever get into a car accident:

  • Stay calm - it will help you stay in control of the situation.
  • Check yourself and, if possible, all persons involved for injuries. If there are injuries, call EMS immediately. If qualified, administer appropriate first aid procedure until help arrives.
  • Call the police or highway patrol. Do not leave the scene of the accident until police advise you that it is okay to do so.
  • Copy down all the necessary information under the important information section below.
  • Take pictures of the accident with the disposable camera in your glove box.
  • Observe the other driver's actions after the accident.
  • Do not admit fault to anyone or discuss how the accident happened; wait for the police to arrive. Once the police arrive at the scene be sure to find out when and where you can get a copy of the police report.
  • Do not sign a release, accept any compensation or agree to pay for any damages at the accident scene.
  • Report the claim as soon as possible by calling Farm Bureau Insurance at 1-800-799-7500.

What important information should I document?

If you are ever in an accident, it is important that you document important information regarding the accident, those involved and any witnesses.
 

BASIC INFORMATION

  • Your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent's Name
  • Phone Number
  • Date/Time
  • Location
     

VEHICLE #1 INFO:

  • Make and Model
  • VIN Number
  • Vehicle Registration
  • State and License Plate Number
     

CONTACT INFO OF DRIVER #1:

  • Driver's Name
  • Driver's License Number
  • Home Phone Number
  • Work Phone Number
  • Insurance Company
     

VEHICLE #2 INFO:

  • Make and Model
  • VIN Number
  • Vehicle Registration
  • State and License Plate Number
     

CONTACT INFO OF DRIVER #2:

  • Driver's Name
  • Driver's License Number
  • Home Phone Number
  • Work Phone Number
  • Insurance Company
     

In addition to the other drivers, you should also collect personal contact information from any passengers and/or witnesses involved. Use the notepad in your glove box to write down this information and describe what happened in the accident.

Auto Insurance from Farm Bureau Insurance

If you are in a car accident, you will be happy to be a Farm Bureau Insurance customer. We pride ourselves on our reputation for providing fair and fast claims service to our South Carolina customers. Report claims anytime through our 24-hour Customer Service Call Center and access Emergency Roadside Assistance 24/7, 365 days a year.

If you are not yet a member of the Farm Bureau Insurance family, get a no-obligation auto quote now. Your local agent will even help you start the process of switching insurance companies. Once you see the difference of Farm Bureau Insurance, you'll wonder why you didn't switch to us sooner.