What to Do in the Event of an Accident

WESTLAND, Mich.–– Millions of accidents occur every year. They can be a very scary and stressful process to go through. In the event that you unfortunately end up in an accident, it's best to be prepared for the next steps. No matter how big or small the damage is, it is better to be safe than sorry in these situations. We at North Brothers Ford are here to help, and can answer any questions you have on what to do in the event of an accident. Follow this guide to help reduce some of the stress of accidents and schedule an appointment if needed!

Don't Leave the Scene

If you get into an accident, it's very important that you stay at the scene until you're positive you have all of the information you need in order to file an insurance claim. You'll need to exchange your license plate number, insurance information, and vehicle registration with anyone else involved. After you do this, make sure you call 911 so the police can document a report or provide any emergency help needed. If you aren't sure about what to do after that, ask the police officer for any further questions, as they will be able to directly help with the situation!

File an Insurance Claim

The next thing you'll need to do is file your insurance claim. In order to do this, you'll need three pieces of proof to move forward. First, you'll need to get the police report, which can be obtained from the officer or from the police station. While you are on the site of the accident, make sure you obtain the insurance information, license plate number, and vehicle registration from any parties involved. Finally, any additional information, like information or testimonials from witnesses, will help to further your case while applying for an insurance claim. Once you have all of these pieces, call your insurance company and make sure you write down the claim number - you'll need it!

Schedule Your Collision Appointment

After you've obtained all of the pieces of proof needed for your insurance claim along with your claim number, schedule your collision appointment with North Brothers Ford to get your vehicle looked at as soon as possible. All you'll need to do from there is provide us with your claim number and we'll get working on the repair as soon as possible. We are here to help and are willing to assist you with any questions or concerns you have about your accident, as well. We can also contact your insurance company with you to help ease the stress off this process and make it a much easier experience!

We at North Brothers Ford are happy to assist you from beginning to end in the event of an accident. If you are still curious about the process for filing an insurance claim, we've laid out some ABCs of Insurance Claims to answer any questions you may have! Making sure you know what to do in the event of an accident is extremely important, and we hope we can assist you through the whole process.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, and is committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: http://www.northbrosford.net

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Your Chance of Hitting a Deer With Your Car in Michigan

WESTLAND, Mich. – In 2014, Michigan experienced 45,690 vehicle-deer crashes, of which 1,072 people were injured and six were killed. The lion’s share of those collisions – 26,312 ­–occurred during dark, unlighted hours, primarily between October and December, according to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, a subsidiary of the Michigan Office of Highway Planning.

Michigan is ranked 10th in the nation for vehicle-deer collisions and your chance of hitting a deer with your car in Michigan is 1-in-97, almost double that of drivers in lower-ranked states, according to State Farm. But there are steps you can take to avoid the dangerous scenario that entails your car, a deer, and the road:

• Drive cautiously at night. Deer are nocturnal animals, which explains why the majority of vehicle-deer collisions in Michigan occur at night. Shine your high beams while driving on unlit roads in order to spot deer further ahead. Those few seconds of extra sight could be the difference between you slowing down in time or – gulp. 

• Drive slow if you see a deer crossing sign; it’s there for a reason. Just as humans populate cities, deer congregate in herds in certain areas more often than others. Heed the sign’s warning and drive cautiously.

• If you see one deer crossing a road, assume more are coming. Even if a deer crosses the road ahead of you and reaches the other side before you’re close, the best thing to do is slow down until you’re out of the area. Deer tend to travel in groups, so other deer not visible to you at the moment could be preparing to cross the road. 

• Don’t swerve if a deer jumps in front of your car. If you have to hit a deer, firmly apply your brakes, grasp your steering wheel with both hands, and continue forward. It’s safer for you to hit a deer than it is to swerve, which could take you into oncoming traffic, a tree, or a ditch.

• If you have to hit a deer, do it at the lowest possible speed. Contrary to the myth that you should maintain or increase your speed when hitting a deer, it’s better to reduce your speed as much as possible. People commonly fear that braking will cause your bumper to dip, thus causing more danger for you. But if you hit a deer at a high speed it causes the deer to absorb a greater force of impact, which is dealt back in full force to your vehicle.

While your chance of hitting a deer with your car in Michigan is higher than in other states, you can greatly reduce your likelihood of becoming a statistic by following the tips we’ve laid out. But if you do find yourself with a damaged front end after an encounter with a deer, bring your vehicle into our Plymouth car dealer and we’ll make sure you receive the right car repair to make your vehicle look great again.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by, or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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Body Shop Garden City - North Brothers Ford

WESTLAND, Mich.- There's no more denying it, the seasons are definitely changing! Which means, it's time to visit our Body Shop near Garden City to prepare your car for the colder months. One seemingly small, but important step to preventing seasonable wear on your vehicle is to fix paint chips or scratches. That small scratch or paint chip will turn right into unsightly rust if you don't fix it before the seasons change.  Sometimes it takes only 30 days for a scratch to begin rusting. The salt and cold temperatures in Michigan only accelerate the process. If you're not sure how to fix it on your own, visit the North Brothers Ford Garden City Body Shop and we’ll fix it for you!

North Brother's Body Shop Garden City can also help solve all of your major car repair and collision problems. So if you find yourself needing a major repair this season, your Garden City Body Shop will be more than happy to help! Stop by the North Brothers Ford Body Shop to make sure your vehicle is in top condition for the coming months! While you're here, save some money with our Oil Change Coupons for Garden City! Schedule an appointment at (888) 806-7163 or visit North Brothers Ford located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185.  

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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