Some South African motorists have been involved in a minor car accident. The crucial question is, do we know what to do, especially when we are quite shaken? Read on and find out more.
Stop your car1
Anyone involved in an accident must stop and never drive off.
Is anyone injured?1
Even in a minor accident, someone could have banged their head against something causing bleeding. Check if you, your passengers, and the third party are injured in any way. If you have had some training and know how to assist, then do so. Otherwise, you need to call an ambulance on 10177 to receive essential medical attention as soon as possible. Alternatively, if it is a minor injury such as a small bruise or a cut and you know of a nearby medical doctor, then this may well be appropriate.
Report the accident to the police1
Even though it is a minor accident, you must report it immediately to the nearest police station. If urgent, you can also call them on 10111. Most car insurance companies also require a case number from the police if the client wishes to submit a car insurance claim.
Save critical numbers on your cell phone beforehand1
You must save essential emergency numbers on your cell phone and note how you can quickly locate them. You may not think clearly in an accident as your body and mind can go into mild shock. After the dust has settled, start recording vital information while still at the accident scene.
Recording accident details using your cell phone1
You may not have a pen and piece of paper handy, but instead, you can make a voice recording on your cell phone, describing everything you can notice that may be of significance. You should take as many pictures as possible, all from different angles. It can also be beneficial to take a video recording if it is possible. Your pictures taken by the cell phone should clearly show the intersection details, noting where the accident took place. It is also important to take note of the weather condition at the time of the accident, which can also be easily recorded using your cell phone. Collecting information in this way can prove extremely valuable, especially in the event of a lawsuit later on.
Information about the drivers1
Each driver needs to obtain the full names, cell phone number, physical address, and ID number of the other driver.
If a company car is involved, find out any company details.
Were there any witnesses?1
Any witnesses to even a minor accident are crucial for any future outcomes of the accident. Sometimes, it may seem to be a minor accident on the surface, but afterwards, one of the drivers may complain about a neck injury that wasn’t evident at the time. Some motorists could be chancers and may bring up an old injury that they blame on the recent accident. If there were witnesses, take down as many details about them as you can.
Record details of authorities at the scene1
Take down details from the police, ambulance drivers and tow truck drivers who were at the scene.
This article about being involved in a minor accident may remind you if your car has sufficient, affordable car insurance cover. If you have any doubts, perhaps contact PMD to discover more about their affordable car insurance products, such as comprehensive car insurance with premiums that never increase* and a reduce to zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply.
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. 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.
Source: