5 Important Steps to Take After a Car Accident

Tony Mers • October 2, 2018

There are roughly 6 million car accidents in the U.S. each year. Additionally, there are four main causes of auto body damage, including weather, negligence, fender benders, and high-speed collisions. No matter what kind of auto accident you're involved in, it's important to know the various steps to take immediately after the collision.

Here are the essential steps that every vehicle owner needs to make following a car accident:

Put your car in park -- Even if the collision caused your vehicle to completely stop, you should make sure that your car is parked so no other damage can be caused. If possible, try and park your car in a spot that won't obstruct the flow of traffic.

Call 911 -- As soon as the car is stopped, no matter how much damage has been suffered, you should dial 911. You need to be cleared by medical professionals before you perform any other necessary steps. If you've been in a serious crash, make sure you remain completely still until medics can assist you and can tend to any potential injuries.

Gather important information -- Hopefully, you haven't been seriously injured and you'll be coherent enough to start getting essential information that you'll likely need down the line. Take down the other driver's information, including name, address, vehicle type, plate number, driver's license, insurance information, and registration. Also, start gathering witness information so you can use them later during a potential lawsuit.

See your doctor -- Again, even if the accident wasn't that bad, you should still visit your doctor and make sure that you're healthy and nothing is wrong. Auto accidents can often result in serious internal injuries -- so it's important to have a doctor take a look.

Visit auto body repair services -- In order to get your car back on the road and looking better than ever, it's important to head to a professional repair shop. Make sure that you're working with experienced repair services so you're getting your money's worth.

If you have recently been involved in a bad car accident, make sure you take all the necessary steps and then work with trusted collision repair services. Give River North Collision Repair right away if you're planning on getting a car fixed.

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.