adminThis weekend I was appalled, it wasn’t even after Christmas when I read the death toll was sitting at 101, those are the official ones, what about those not recorded? Accident prevention is important — but knowing how to react is also essential.
Each year, thousands of people are involved in traffic accidents during the festive period. If you are one of these unfortunate people, will you know what to do in the aftermath of a collision? How you react can prevent further injuries, reduce costs and accelerate the clean-up and repair process.
I have developed a list of suggestions to help drivers anticipate what they need to know about dealing with an accident. These tips can make a big difference in everything from protecting yourself and your passengers to ensuring that you won’t be without a car while yours is in the body shop.
Of the hundreds into thousands motor accidents recorded by the police, over a third of them result in death or injuries. So, if you are involved in a traffic collision, try to remain calm, and follow these steps:
Action plan to deal with accidents:
1. Keep an emergency kit in your glove compartment
Drivers should carry a cellphone, as well as pen and paper for taking notes, a camera to take photos of the vehicles at the scene, and a card with information about medical allergies or conditions that may require special attention if there are serious injuries. Also, keep a list of contact numbers. A set of cones, warning triangles or emergency flares should be kept in the trunk of your car at all times.
2. Keep safety first
Drivers involved in minor accidents with no serious injuries should move cars to the side of the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leaving cars parked in the middle of the road or busy intersection can result in additional accidents and injuries. If a car cannot be moved, drivers and passengers should remain in the cars with seat belts fastened for everyone’s safety until help arrives. Make sure to turn on hazard lights and set out cones, flares or warning triangles if possible.
3. Exchange information
After the accident, exchange the following information: name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver licence number and licence plate number for the driver and the owner of each vehicle. If the driver’s name is different from the name of the insured, establish what the relationship is and take down the name and address for each individual. Also make a written description of each car, including year, make, model and colour — and the exact location of the collision and how it happened. Finally, be polite but don’t tell the other drivers or the police that the accident was your fault, even if you think it was.
4. Photograph and document the accident
Use your camera to document the damage to all the vehicles. Keep in mind that you want your photos to show the overall context of the accident so that you can make your case to a claims adjuster. If there were witnesses, try to get their contact information; they may be able to help you if the other drivers dispute your version of what happened.
5. File an accident report
Although law enforcement officers in many locations may not respond to accidents unless there are injuries, drivers should file a vehicle accident report, which is available at police stations. A police report often helps insurance companies speed up the claims process.
6. Know what your
insurance covers
The whole insurance process will be easier following your accident if you know the details of your coverage. For example, don’t wait until after an accident to find out that your policy doesn’t automatically cover costs for towing or a replacement rental car. Check your policy for specifics.
The final question in dealing with an accident is usually who will pay for the damages? If the accident was minor, you and the other drivers may decide to handle the damages yourselves without the involvement of an insurance company. But this isn’t always the best idea, for several reasons.
While the other driver may agree to pay for the damage to your car on the day of the accident, he may see the repair bills and decide it’s too high. At this point, time has passed and your insurance company will have more difficulty putting together the evidence if you file a claim.
Also, keep in mind that you have no way of knowing whether another driver will change his mind and report the accident to his insurance company. He may even claim injuries that weren’t apparent at the scene of the accident. This means that your insurance company may end up paying him a hefty settlement or worse yet, you could be dragged into a lawsuit. So make sure that your company has your version of what happened and check your policy — if the damages paid out by your insurance company are below a certain amount, the accident may not be considered chargeable. And you will avoid the penalty of a premium hike.
Vehicle accidents take a tremendous toll on everyone involved, both financially and emotionally. If you’re one of the lucky ones who have thus far avoided a serious accident, hopefully the tips on prevention will help keep it that way. The chances are high, though; that at some point you will be involved in a minor accident. Just keep your head and make safety your primary concern.
You’ll have plenty of time to deal with the consequences later. Happy holidays and God bless you. See you next year.
Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast who has attended auto shows, rallies and has written for various publications in the region for the last decade. She can be contacted via email on [email protected] or Torque with Fact Jeke on Facebook.
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