THINGS YOU NEED IN YOUR CAR FROM MARTRIX AUTO PERFORMANCE
Marco Rubio, Owner

There you were, driving along minding your own business....

Maybe you were on your way to work in rush hour traffic, or on your way home from a hard day at the office. It might be a trip to the store, to get gas, or on your way to some event. You might be taking the kids to soccer, or going to the gym...

WHAM... crushing sheet metal, breaking glass... "WHAT THE @##%!!!!"

You never saw it coming... and neither did the other driver! That coffee you were drinking is all over the inside of the car.. the kids are screaming and crying. Cars are blowing their horns, someone is yelling at you, "are you all right?"...

If you have ever been in an accident, you know what I'm saying here. Those first few moments are a daze. The next hour or so, everyone is mad, everyone has there own version, but you MUST get information from the other driver and they MUST get information from you. Let's face it, things are confusing... heated... and that is just another problem you don't really want to deal with. Something always gets lost, or you forget something that is needed later.

Most of us have the usual stuff in our car for emergencies. You got the spare and jack for the flat. You have the emergency first aid kit. You might even have one of those kits with road flares, flash light, and bright red plastic sheets that says "HELP" on it. But, are you prepared for the typical accident? Bet you aren't!

That is why we created this page for you. It is simple stuff, but in the stressful time after a fender bender, what we recommend here will save you tons of time, pain of dealing with insurance companies, stress, and if you need a lawyer this stuff will go a long way.

THE TWO THINGS YOU NEED, AND PROBABLY DON'T HAVE!

The first thing you need you should pick up right now. Go to the nearest store... Pharmacy, Discount Store, or corner convenience store and buy one of those disposable cameras with a flash. Stick it in the glove box. Like it or not, many cities like Houston have started police policies that actually keep officers from coming to an accident unless someone is dead; dying; or about to become physically injured by one or more parties involved in the accident. Basically, you are expected to move out of traffic; exchange info; and then go to the nearest substation and file a report. YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN, and you had better have plenty of documentation!

May the universe be kind to you, and you never have an accident... or for that matter witness one... but it does happen. Check for injuries of course, that's first thing. You don't want anyone dying on you here. THEN BEFORE ANY CARS ARE MOVED you pull out that camera in the glove box and do this:

OK, now that part is done and it should have taken NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. This will be proof just in case someone gets a memory lapse and they say there never was an accident! Believe me, this happens more times than you could imagine. It will also back up your side of the story in case the police report is missing something. Your insurance company... and that damned attorney... will love you for it. It is your proof right then and there.

The second thing you need to do is use the links below and print off these forms. I would recommend that you print off several copies of each, just in case there is more than just two drivers involved here. After all, you want to make sure that everyone gets an invitation to the party, right? Just click on the link, and click on the "PRINT" button.

FORM "A" - YOUR INFORMATION

I recommend that you fill out this form now... it will save you time later. All you have to do is pass it out while you are getting the information from the other drivers.

The form has all your personal contact information, your vehicle information, and your insurance information. It also has a universal diagram of a car and truck (depends on what you are driving) where you can make notes indicating the damage areas. By indicating the damage area yourself, you can make sure that the other driver(s) have have the proper information.

FORM "B" - THE OTHER VEHICLE/DRIVERS INFORMATION

Pass this one out to the other driver(s), or better yet, fill it out yourself so you can make sure that the information is correct, AND YOU CAN READ IT. Since it is a printed form, all you need to do is fill in the blanks.

The form has all personal contact information, vehicle information, and needed insurance information. It also has a universal diagram of a car and truck (depends on what the other vehicle is) where you can make notes indicating the damage areas. MAKE SURE THIS information on the diagram is complete, and CORRECT. You wouldn't believe how many times we see accident damage from a left front impact and the other driver is claiming damage on the right rear. By getting it at the scene, along with the pictures, these forms keep everyone honest, and speeds claims processing.

Now, wasn't that simple? No muss, no fuss, and if you ever have an accident you will be sure to have everything needed. Pre-fill the forms as much as possible to save time later. To keep them clean and usable, put in a zip-lock type baggie with the camera, and stick your "Accident Information Package" in the glove box. Hopefully, you will never need to use it, but if you do it will be right there... and ready for you.