Car accidents are a fact of life and most drivers have been involved in at least one accident. Even if you are a really cautious driver, you are still at the mercy of those who skip red robots, focus on sending text messages rather than the road and overtake dangerously. 

Whether a minor bumper bashing or something more serious, accidents leave you shaken up, dealing with legalities and in some cases, injuries. So what should you do after an accident?

–       Don’t drive away. Every collision you are involved in – even a minor one where no injuries occur – you are legally obliged to stop, check on the other person involved, exchange contact details and insurance information and report the accident to the nearest police station. Failing to do these things is committing a crime.

–       Report the incident – even if the other driver says there is no need to report the accident to the police and that the insurance company can handle everything. The other driver may seem very sincere but you have no way of knowing if their insurance is up to date or even exists. You have no idea whether that driver has active arrest warrants. And even though it appears that no one has injuries, medical attention may be needed later – so reporting the incident is essential.

–       Stay calm. An accident is an unpleasant experience and emotions tend to run high. Even if the other driver is at fault, don’t lose your cool. Exchange information, note the name of the street that the accident occurred on, report the incident to both the police and your insurer and then go and have a good, strong cup of tea to calm your nerves.

–       Don’t play the blame game. Step 1. Ask the other driver if they are alright. Step 2. Don’t start laying blame or raising your voice – it will solve nothing. Step 3. Take a few deep breaths and calmly access the situation and do what you need to do in terms of documenting the accident.

–       Don’t tell people it was your fault. If you do this, you’re legally admitting liability for the accident, which could expose you to a lawsuit or other penalties. Just keep it together, make sure everyone is safe, be polite, but protect yourself at the same time.

Always expect the unexpected – make sure your insurance policy is up to date. Speak to Indwe Risk Services today 0860 13 13 14