You never saw the other car coming, and all you remember is the sound of crunching metal and flying glass. Many of us have been there before, and having a car accident is certainly an experience you would rather avoid. But when it does happen, we must know what to do.
It is prudent to plan what to do in the event of a car accident well before it happens, rather than try and figure out what to do in the midst of one. Let’s look at a few important things to remember.
Immediately notify the police or emergency services
In the event of a serious accident, you must immediately contact emergency services and the traffic police. It is vital to have access to emergency numbers on your cell phone because time may not be on your side – in fact, calling quickly could be a matter of life and death.
For insurance purposes, you may have to officially report the accident to the nearest police station to obtain a case number, this will only be necessary if the police were not on the scene of the accident.
Obtain details of all other parties involved
You need to obtain details from the other parties involved in the accident, this includes the name of the driver, the registration numbers of the vehicle(s) concerned, as well as checking licence disks. Record the approximate time of the accident, the name of the streets or nearby landmarks, and who came from what direction. You may not have the ability or the time to write everything down at the scene but write as many facts down as you can remember as soon as possible after the accident. Draw a sketch plan of the streets and directions of the cars involved. In addition, what was the road like – was it wet, and slippery or was it a dirt road? Was it raining and misty? Any information that you can recall must be noted down.
Why are witnesses important?
Witnesses to a car accident are extremely useful for providing crucial information which can be used later on, especially if you should become involved in some form of litigation. Witnesses have the advantage of being reasonably calm at the time of the accident. In this way, they are able to provide a reasonably objective and accurate description of what happened. Make a point of finding any witnesses at the scene of the accident, and take down all their details.1
What do we do when someone has been injured?
No matter how trivial an injury may seem, any injured person should be taken to a doctor or to the nearest casualty section of a hospital as soon as possible.
Take videos or photos from the scene
Take as many photos or videos of the accident scene as you can. This information may prove extremely beneficial during future claims investigation or litigation.
What would be the Best Photos to take at the Scene of a Road Crash? https://t.co/gKb7LzAkUM @StanfromIBF pic.twitter.com/J94y0BuXp4
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) July 20, 2016
Report the accident to your insurer
If you are insured, you must report the incident to your insurer as soon as possible but within the time periods stipulated in your policy contract. Your insurance company will guide you through their claims process.
What should you NOT do?
You should not move your car from its final position on the road unless a police officer instructs you to do so. Make sure that in the ensuing chaos you are not exposing yourself to any additional danger by standing in the path of oncoming traffic. Co-operate with the police at all times, and don’t leave the scene unless you have been told you can. No evidence of any sort should be discarded. Never admit liability or even consent to some form of agreement with any other party at the scene. At this stage, you are probably still in shock and confused, so it is much better for an attorney or your insurer to handle the matter professionally at a later stage.
Disclaimer:
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Prime Meridian Direct (Pty) Ltd, FSP41040.The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.