If your car was damaged in a car accident, the first thing you should do is to have it inspected by an auto mechanic. The reason for this is two-fold: for one, you should ensure the safety of the vehicle before driving it, and second, having documentation of the vehicle damage will be necessary if you are to file a personal injury claim. If you do not have the car inspected immediately after the car accident, when pursuing a claim, questions will arise regarding how extensive the reported vehicle damage really was and whether the damage you reference is, in fact, a result of the car accident.