Bergen County Accident Guide
A car accident is stressful enough. This guide walks through the first steps to take, what information to gather, what to remove from the vehicle before it is towed, and how to keep the towing process straightforward.
Step 1
Check yourself and your passengers before worrying about the vehicles. Adrenaline can make injuries harder to notice immediately, so take a moment and pay attention to how everyone feels.
If anyone is injured or you believe emergency help may be needed, call 911. If the vehicles can be moved safely, get them out of an active traffic lane and turn on the hazard lights.
Step 2
If anyone is injured, traffic is blocked, a vehicle is unsafe to move, or you are unsure what to do next, contact local police or 911 as appropriate and follow their instructions.
If an officer responds, keep the officer's name and the report or case number for your records.
Step 3
Photograph both vehicles from several angles. Get wide photos showing where the vehicles are positioned and closer photos showing the damage.
Also photograph plate numbers, road conditions, debris, skid marks, and any nearby signs or signals that may be useful later.
Step 4
Exchange names, phone numbers, vehicle information, plate numbers, and insurance information with the other driver.
If there are witnesses, get their contact information when possible. Keep the conversation focused on the information you need rather than arguing about what happened.
Step 5
When it is safe and practical, take your registration, insurance card, garage remote, house keys, phone charger, medications, and valuables out of the vehicle.
Tell the towing company where you want the vehicle transported before loading begins and confirm the destination with the operator.
Let dispatch know if the vehicle has flat tires, locked steering, damaged suspension, missing keys, low clearance, or other conditions that may affect loading.
Step 6
Keep your towing paperwork, photographs, receipts, and any other records related to the accident together in one place.
If the vehicle is being stored, coordinate with the destination, repair facility, or other parties involved so you know what the next step is.
If pain or other symptoms appear after the collision, seek appropriate medical care and tell the medical provider that the symptoms followed an accident.
XXCELL Accident Recovery
Accident-damaged vehicles can require more than a basic tow. Steering damage, flat tires, broken suspension, locked wheels, low clearance, and debris can all affect how the vehicle needs to be loaded.
XXCELL Towing can use flatbed, wheel-lift, winch, ramps, and other available equipment depending on the vehicle and the conditions of the job.
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Frequently Asked
If anyone is injured, traffic is blocked, the vehicle is unsafe to move, or you are unsure what to do, contact local police or 911 as appropriate and follow their instructions.
Photograph both vehicles from multiple angles, plate numbers, road conditions, debris or skid marks, and any relevant signs or signals.
Exchange names, phone numbers, vehicle information, plate numbers, and insurance information. If there are witnesses, get their contact information when possible.
Take your registration, insurance card, garage remote, house keys, chargers, and valuables when it is safe and practical to do so.
Tell the towing company your requested destination before loading begins and confirm the destination with the operator.
If pain or other symptoms appear after the collision, seek appropriate medical care and tell the medical provider that the symptoms followed an accident.
Call XXCELL Towing or use the online estimate tool.