The steps to take after a road accident

Road accidents can be stressful and scary. Three people each day die on our roads with numerous more seriously injured. Therefore, it is important to understand what to do immediately after the accident. To make the process as stress-free as possible, here are our steps to undertake after a road accident, even if you were a passenger in a motor vehicle .

Seek medical help

If you or someone else involved in the accident, has been seriously injured it is important to seek medical attention and call 000 to ensure an ambulance is called to the scene. If it is safe to do so, move yourself and anyone else involved to the side of the road as quickly as possible to avoid any potential further injuries from oncoming traffic.

Sometimes, injuries and shock/trauma are not always apparent and can affect you after the accident has happened. Therefore, it is critical to ensure you seek medical assistance as soon as you experience any injuries. Subsequently, if you wish to seek compensation for any injuries suffered as a result of the accident, you will need to provide medical documentation in support of your claim.

Report the accident to police

You are legally required to report the accident by law. It is also necessary to report the accident if you wanting to make a claim under a Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance policy for any personal injuries you sustained by the accident. Therefore, it is always best to call the police attend the scene so that there is a record of who was there, what happened and who the police determines is at fault of the accident.

Details to record at the scene of the accident

Try to remain calm, stop the engine and exit the vehicle if it safe to do so. If another vehicle was involved in the accident, try to get their details including the following;

• Registration number of the vehicle;
• Make and model of the vehicle;
• Contact details; and
• A copy of their drivers licence.

Further, try to photograph the scene such as

• Where the accident occurred (e.g. the intersection the accident occurred on);
• Any damage done to the road / area (e.g. skid marks);
• Traffic signs; and
• The vehicles involved and the damage to them.

It is also critical to write down the date and time of the accident, the weather conditions and the location of the accident.

If there are any witness(es) to the accident it is important to get their details as they can corroborate your version of the events. This may be helpful in the future if making an application to the insurance company or a personal injury compensation claim.

Contact your insurer

If you’ve been in an accident, you should notify your insurance company. You should provide them with the details and information gathered above. In particular, it is important to pass on the details of the other person involved.

It is also essential to keep any bills and receipts incurred from the accident. This includes car repairs and medical expenses such as medications/ painkillers and rehabilitation as you may be reimbursed by the insurer.

Seek legal advice

It is also important to note, if you were on a bicycle and hit by a car, you have the same legal rights as someone in a motor vehicle.

If you have suffered injuries due to being involved in a motor vehicle accident, it is vital you seek legal advice. This is because you can claim for pain and suffering, medical expenses (physio, doctor’s appointments, radiology, surgery) past and future economic loss, and other bills.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a motor vehicle accident and needs our help, please contact our office today for a free initial assessment.

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