October 3, 2023

If you have had an accident, this list will help you know what to do after a collision.

1. Check for Injuries

Make sure nobody involved is injured. When in doubt, call for an ambulance. Otherwise, move uninjured passengers safely away from traffic.

2. Move Your Vehicle

If possible, move your vehicle out of traffic without actually leaving the scene, and turn on your hazard lights. Use cones, triangles or flares if available.

3. Call for Police

Even if the accident is minor, be sure to call the police to the scene. Having an official report can be crucial with insurance and help the repair process.

4. Take Notes

Exchange insurance information, write down license plates, passenger names, witness contact information, and anything else that you can write down to document the accident.

5. Get Pictures

When it’s safe to do so, be sure to take photos of the vehicles involved and the scene of the accident.

6. Call a Tow Truck (if needed)

If your vehicle needs to be towed, we recommend Hochstetler’s at (319) 364-1097 or Darrah’s at (319) 363-7900. Both of these companies are located in Cedar Rapids. Ask them to tow it to our facility and we will pay the tow bill when it arrives.

7. Deal With Insurance

If you work with an insurance agent, call them when you’re ready. If you do not feel the accident is your fault, it’s generally recommended that you wait to hear from the other party’s insurance company unless you think they’re going to be problematic – there’s little point in immediately filing a claim to your insurance unless you feel you are at fault or the other party is uninsured.

8. Begin Repair Process

When you’re ready, contact Waln Collision and let us help you from here. We can answer some basic questions about your claim and help you make the next steps toward getting your vehicle repaired. Learn more about our repair process.

If You Encountered Hail or Storm Damage

Most insurance companies prefer to send an internal adjuster out to evaluate hail or storm damaged vehicles. Please feel free to call us at (319) 846-3434 or contact your agent or insurance company right away to begin the claim process.

If You’ve Been Vandalized

If your vehicle has been vandalized, file a police report as soon as you notice the vandalism. Be careful of any broken glass, your insurance company will generally pay our facility or the glass installers to clean up the broken glass, so only do this yourself if you feel it’s necessary or it it prevents you from driving the vehicle. Many insurers will also pay for the vehicle to be towed if the broken glass renders it unsafe to drive. If you are going to clean up any of the glass yourself, be sure to document the damage with photos before you remove it.

Many insurance companies prefer to send an internal adjuster out to evaluate vandalism, so be sure to contact them to find out their preference and begin the claim process.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss your damages, and we will assist you in any way we can.

Insurance Notes

The first thing to remember is that you may choose any collision repair shop you like, regardless of your insurance providers’ recommendations. Waln Repair and Collision works with all insurance companies to help speed up the insurance adjustment process and will communicate with your provider until your repairs are complete.