What to Do When a Car Drives Through Your Storefront

2/6/2023 (Permalink)

Yes, a damage restoration company covers all types of damage, even a car crashing into your business.

If a car drives through your storefront, it can be a terrifying experience. These types of accidents happen rarely, but when they do, it's important to know what to do.

You may not be in the right frame of mind to think clearly after a car crash into your storefront, but it's essential to take the following critical steps right away:

Check For Injuries

The first and most important step is looking around for serious injuries. If you were hurt in the crash, check your body to see if you need to see a doctor right away.

The next step is to check the driver's and passengers' well-being to ensure that they are in good shape. Look for other people in the area who may have been affected.

If there are serious injuries, you should seek immediate medical attention; it is vital not to move anyone injured in the accident, as this may result in additional injuries.

It is also crucial to inspect the building to determine if the building's structure has been compromised; if so, you may need to evacuate everyone from the building and some of your valuables to avoid further injuries and damage.

Report to the Authorities

After helping the people who were hurt in the crash, you need to call 911 to report the crash so that there is a record of what happened for legal reasons and insurance claims.

The police will assess the situation and ask you some simple questions to help them understand what happened; the driver may face charges. Request a copy of the police report as well as the case's assigned file number from the police.

Exchange Information

You should exchange as much information as possible with the driver, including their insurance information. If the driver doesn't give you any information, just write down their license plate number and a description of their vehicle.

You must obtain the following information from the driver: the vehicle's registration number; the model, color, and make of the vehicle; the driver's address; name; insurance information; and contact information.

These details are crucial for your insurance company and the police.

Call Your Insurer

You need to call your insurance company and tell them how the crash affected your storefront.

At first, this should just be for information, and you should let them know that you will get in touch with them again if necessary.

Get a Professional Restoration Contractor

Since you surely haven't made preparations for the damage to your property that the crash will cause, you should hire a restoration contractor who has experience dealing with emergencies.

By doing so, you can rest assured that only highly trained experts in the field will be tasked with fixing your business after a crash.

Using a professional restoration contractor will also help you with the insurance claims process.

The restoration process will include immediate response, on-site evaluation, action plan formulation, property damage clean-up, repair preparation, and final property restoration to preloss condition.

If a car drives through your storefront, call SERVPRO at (225) 753-3434 right away. We specialize in minimizing and restoring property damage from accidents like this, and we'll work quickly to get your business back up and running.

Gather Evidence

You'll need to gather as much evidence as possible about the extent of the accident and the damage.

You must record videos and still photographs of the damage, and after the car has been removed, you must record additional videos and photographs. Obtain any possible witness testimony as well.

Make a record of your involvement in the building's security and clean-up, as well as any incidental costs incurred as a result of the crash. All of this will be important when filing a claim.

When a car crashes through your storefront, it can be devastating for you and the driver alike and cause extensive damage to your building. It is important to act quickly to mitigate the damage and return your property to its preloss condition.

If a car drives through your storefront, call SERVPRO at (225) 753-3434 right away. We know what it takes to repair an office after an accident like this and can get you back in business as soon as possible.