What To Do If You’re In A Car Accident: Eight-Point Checklist

If you drive regularly on South Africa’s roads, the unfortunate reality is that you are at the mercy of other people, no matter how safely you drive. Chances are good that you may be involved in a car accident at some point. It may be just a minor bumper bashing, but it could also be something more serious. When that happens, you want to know the best course of action to ensure your safety and that of those around you. Knowing what to do will mean that the matter can be dealt with as calmly as possible and will also help the car insurance process run more smoothly when you claim.

Here is our eight-point accident checklist, which will help guide you as to what to do if you’re in a car accident.

• Stop : This may sound obvious, but many people’s first instinct is to drive away after they’ve been involved in a car accident. You are legally required to stop your vehicle after an accident, especially in the case of injury or death to a person or animal or damage to property. Even if it’s just a minor bump or scrape to another person’s car, you are also required to stop.
•  Switch your hazard lights on : This is essential as it will warn other motorists of your presence and will alert them to slow down as they approach you.
  
•  Identify and help anyone who may be injured : Although it’s important to assist injured people, you need to have first-aid knowledge; otherwise you could move someone and worsen his or her injury. If you are worried about doing this, wait for medical professionals to arrive on the scene.
• Call emergency services : The numbers to use are 084 124 for emergency medical care and10111 for the South African Police Service. You will need to give them the address where the accident happened and any landmarks if you can, so they can find you quickly.
  
•  Examine the extent of the damage : Look carefully at all vehicles involved to assess the damage, but remember that safety comes first. Be very careful of broken glass and leaking oil, petrol or diesel. 
  
• Get all the necessary information : Try to get the following from everyone involved:

1. Full name
   
2. Identity number
   
3. Driving licence number of the driver(s) of the other vehicle(s)
   
4. Address
   
5. Contact details
   
6. Vehicle registration number
   
7. Description of the vehicle(s) involved
   

In addition, try to get:

1. The details of police officers, traffic officers and ambulance staff
2. The details of tow truck staff (use tow operators approved by your car insurance company, where applicable)
   
3. The names and contact details of any witnesses to the accident as you may need these later.

Sketching a picture of the accident can also be very helpful at a later stage to remind you what happened.

• Report the accident to the police : If no one has been injured, it isn’t necessary to call the police to the scene of the accident, but every driver involved must report the accident at a police station within 24 hours. If you’re injured, report the accident as soon as you can and explain why you were delayed.
  
• Do not tamper with the evidence : If anyone is injured in the accident, the vehicles may not be moved until the police or traffic officer gives you permission to do so. If the vehicles are totally obstructing the flow of traffic, they may be moved so that other vehicles can pass, although the positions of the vehicles involved in the accident must be clearly marked with chalk or spray paint.
  

This car accident checklist will help you fulfil all your legal obligations. And when you have to give an account of events to your car insurance company, you will be able to remember exactly what happened, as you would have recorded all the relevant information at the scene.