What To Do If You Are Involved In A Car Accident
Car accidents are scary but they can happen at any place and time which makes it important for drivers to equip themselves with the knowledge to cope when in a crash.
25/06/2024
Car accidents are scary and
overwhelming ordeals. Unfortunately, they can
happen at any place and time and that's why it
is important that you keep a clear head and equip
yourself with
the knowledge to know what to do when involved
in a car accident.
It's difficult to focus while the shock and
injuries of an accident are fresh. “It’s crucial to know what to do, who to
contact, and what steps must be taken after a
crash,” says Keletso Mpisane, Head of Blink by
MiWay. By knowing what steps to follow, you
clear away any uncertainty should anything occur
on the road.
1. Make that important first call
Turn the
car off and make sure those in your vehicle are
safe or if anyone needs urgent medical
attention. For any medical care, call
emergency services by dialling 112 on your
phone.Emergency calls work on any mobile network
and you will be connected to a call centre that
will get you help from the nearest hospital. “If you are
injured and unable to call for an ambulance,
Blink by MiWay users have an app that can detect
a serious car crash and alert our 24/7 emergency
call centre,” says Mpisane.
In the event of injury to any parties
involved in an accident, or if there is damage to property,
motor vehicles
should not be moved and all persons involved in
the accident must remain
at the scene until a police vehicle arrives
according to the law.
You can then
turn the hazard lights on, especially if the
accident took place at night or there is low
visibility. Check on people in the other
vehicle, and if anyone is badly injured, none of
the vehicles should be moved until a police
officer has cleared it.
2. Make notes and have all your details ready
Get the emergency warning triangle out of your
car, it’s usually stored in the boot, and place
it at least 45 meters behind the crash scene to
alert other drivers to slow down.
Record
information like the date, time, the weather,the
accident location and other party's details.
Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and
kindly ask the other driver if you can take
images of their car.
Here’s a checklist
of what you need from other vehicles involved in
the accident:
- Full names of other drivers and owner if the owner differs.
- ID numbers of other drivers.
- Cellphone and other contact numbers of the owner and driver.
- Insurance details like the name of their insurance company and policy number.
- If any of the drivers are driving a company vehicle, get the details of their employer too.
- Take down the details of the vehicle/s, including: the make, model, colour and registration number.
“It’s also a good idea to get contact details for people who saw the accident happen, as this can help you when your insurance is processing your claim,” says the Blink by MiWay Head.
3. Make the necessary calls for assistance
Once the above steps have been completed, you can call
your insurer to advise of the accident
and arrange for a tow truck.
“Only use a
towing service that’s authorised by your
insurance provider,” says Mpisane.
Never let tow truck drivers move your vehicle before you have authorisation from your insurer for the towing services.
If your motor vehicle was only slightly damaged but still driveable, follow your insurer’s instructions about what to do next.
4. File the necessary Accident Report
An Accident Report must be filed at a police station within 24 hours of the accident. “Even if you think it’s just minor damage, you must get an accident report number to claim with your insurer,” says Mpisane. Accident reports are very detailed and your insurer will want information such as:
- The time and location of the incident.
- The details of the parties and their vehicles.
- The road conditions (this is why you should note the weather).
- If liquor or drug use was suspected and if anyone was tested on the scene.
- A sketch and description of the accident.
“The accident report number is pivotal for
insurers to process claims. This information is
used to validate the claim,” says Mpisane. “Both
accident reports and insurance claim forms need
clear details of the accident. Be honest about
the facts of the accident on these forms.”
While these immediate steps can be a lot to
take in, being prepared in these unpredictable
situations can save you time and bring peace of
mind.