5 Costly Mistakes People Make After a Car Accident in Charlotte (And How You Can Avoid Them)
Let’s be honest — nobody plans to get in a car accident.
One second, you're driving home from work on I‑85. The next, someone slams on the brakes in front of you… and boom. You're shaken up, confused, and wondering, “What do I do now?”
We’ve been helping people in Charlotte fix up their vehicles for years, and we’ve seen the same mistakes over and over again — mistakes that end up costing people time, money, and a lot of stress.
So here's a quick, honest guide to what not to do after a crash — and how to handle it the smart way.
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1. “It’s not a big deal — we don’t need the cops.”
We get it. You want to be polite. You don’t want to “make a big thing” out of it. But here’s the deal:
If there’s any damage at all, get a police report.
In North Carolina, you're legally supposed to report accidents with injury or over $1,000 in damage — and trust us, that little dent? It adds up fast.
Having an official report protects you in case:
The other driver changes their story later.
You need to file an insurance claim.
Something turns out to be worse than it looked.
What to do:
Call CMPD or 911. Be respectful. Just let them do their job. You’ll thank yourself later.
2. “Looks fine… I’ll drive it like this for now.”
The outside might look okay. But under the surface?
Modern cars are full of sensors, frames, crash systems — and they don’t always show damage right away.
We’ve had customers come in weeks later saying,
“I didn’t think it was serious… now it’s making weird noises.”
What to do:
Get it looked at by a pro.
Even if you’re not ready to repair it right away, a solid inspection can tell you what’s safe — and what’s not.
3. Letting insurance tell you where to go.
This one’s tricky. After the accident, your insurance company might say:
“We recommend this shop. Just go there.”
What they often don’t tell you is — you’re not required to go there.
Your right:
In North Carolina, you can pick any repair shop you trust. Not the one that cuts corners. Not the one doing favors for your insurance company.
Just go where you feel confident in the work. Simple as that.
4. Forgetting the little things.
In the moment, your head’s spinning. It’s easy to forget stuff.
But some of the most important things are the little ones:
Taking photos (of damage, location, even the weather).
Writing down the other driver’s info (license, plate, insurance).
Grabbing witness contacts (if anyone saw it).
These small details? They can protect you big time later.
Pro tip:
Take a breath. Pull out your phone. Snap a few pictures. It only takes 30 seconds — and could save you weeks of hassle.
5. Waiting too long to fix it.
We see it all the time:
“I meant to bring it in, but things got busy…”
And now the bumper’s rusting, or the door won’t close right. Waiting too long almost always leads to more damage — and a bigger bill.
What to do:
As soon as you can, get the car to a repair shop you trust. Not just for looks — for safety, for value, and for peace of mind.
One Last Thing...
If you’re in Charlotte and you’ve just had a wreck — no matter how small — you’re not alone.
At Deluxe Paint & Body Works, we’ve helped thousands of people get back on the road with repairs they can trust. We know accidents are stressful. That’s why we handle the hard stuff — so you don’t have to.
We’re not here to push you. We’re here to help you.
📍 2546 Lucena Street, Charlotte, NC 28206
🔧 Collision repair, bodywork, painting & more
📞 Have questions? (704) 397-3315
