You’ve just had an accident, and you feel shocked and dazed, but fortunately are not hurt. In that state, it’s easy to behave irrationally and say things you shouldn’t have. It’s easier to put up a tent when it’s calm than in the middle of a storm. Read on about the following helpful tips.
What do you do after an accident? Below are some steps you should follow:
Call the police
The first thing is that either you or someone else must call the police. You need to report your accident to the nearest police station within 24 hours. This is also most important for car insurance purposes, as insurers will want the police case number provided to you after visiting the police station.
Collecting information
Today, most of us have smartphones, so take as many pictures as you can from all angles. These can be of the road scene, the position of the cars, their number plates, car licence disk , any injuries and so on. Take down particulars of the other driver such as their name, ID number, and contact details and details of any witnesses present.
What to do back home
When you have calmed down, record anything else you may have noticed about the whole accident while it’s still fresh in your mind. Draw a sketch plan of the entire accident, showing north and a reference point such as a traffic light. Write down a statement outlining what happened. This information is crucial should there be any litigation later on.
What to do if someone is injured?
Immediately consult a doctor, no matter how seemingly trivial it may seem at the time. In the event there is an insurance claim, you have the doctor’s description of the injury.
Contact your car insurer
If you are insured, it’s essential to contact your insurer as soon as possible for registering a claim. They will require the police case number.
What not to do at the accident scene
Never move your car unless instructed to do so by a law enforcement officer. Avoid exposing yourself to any danger from traffic driving past the accident scene. You may not leave the scene of the accident unless instructed to do so by a police officer. Never admit to any liability or discuss anything. Don’t discard any evidence that may help with the investigation.
How does the Road Accident Fund (RAF) apply to this?
Anyone can claim damages from the RAF sustained from injuries due to negligent driving by the other party. The RAF can compensate such a person for the injuries sustained.
This article is all about protecting yourself from all the pitfalls that jump at you during an accident. Why not also protect your car with car insurance to help you recover from an accident in restoring your vehicle? Get affordable car insurance with PMD, which include excellent benefits like premiums that never increase*. Ts and Cs apply.
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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.