10 Nov Steps to Take if You’ve Hit an Animal With Your Vehicle
Even if you do everything you can to drive safely and avoid collisions with other cars, people, and animals, an accident can happen. Hitting an animal with your car is upsetting and stressful, so it’s important to know ahead of time what you should do if it happens. At National Auto Collision Centers, we can repair minor and major damage from car accidents with animals in Arizona. Before you contact us for repairs, take a look at what you should do if you hit an animal with your vehicle.
Safely Pull Your Car Over
Safely pull your car off the road to assess the situation and remove yourself from danger. Put your hazard lights on and set out warning triangles if you have them. You should also check on the animal.
Call 911 and Animal Control
Next, call 911 to report the accident. In some cases, 911 will contact animal control or wildlife control but you may need to do it yourself. Animal control or wildlife control can tell you if you should try to transport the animal to a veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitation center, if they will send someone to you, or if you should move the animal off the road. Never touch a wild animal without first checking with a police officer or wildlife control representative.
Check Your Vehicle for Damage & Document the Accident
Check your vehicle for damage and take photos and videos of the vehicle and accident scene. You may need to provide this documentation to the police or your insurance company. At National Auto Collision Centers, we can repair major and minor collision damage, including body damage, dents and dings, and paint damage. We will also work with your insurance company to get repairs covered and coordinate billing and payment. We can even loan you a vehicle or arrange a rental vehicle through your insurance company.
Call Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company to report the accident and provide them with the documentation they need for your claim. Find out if they cover repairs made at our collision centers and provide them with our contact information.
Bring Your Car to National Auto Collision Centers in Tucson, AZ
When you call us at National Auto Collision Centers after a car accident or collision in Arizona, we will arrange for your car to be safely towed to one of our collision centers, free of charge. We will assess the damage to your car and give you a quote for repairs. We have experience working with all major national auto insurance companies, and can contact them to give them billing information and obtain information about your coverage. We offer complete insurance claims handling in Arizona, and try to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. We provide free towing and pickup, certified auto repairs, vehicle washing and vacuuming, and free delivery of your vehicle back to you. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call us today or contact us online.