What to Do if You’ve Been in a Car Accident

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it is important to keep your perspective and carefully follow procedures to file a successful car insurance claim – and stay on the right side of the law! Budget Insurance recommends that you take the following steps.

Step 1: Checking for injuries & calling for help

Budget Insurance reminds drivers that it is considered a criminal offence if you fail to stop your vehicle at the scene of an accident, especially if their passengers, other commuters or pedestrians have been injured, or if any property has been damaged. A driver who fails to stop after an accident is liable to be prosecuted, fined up to R36 000 or sent to prison for up to 9 years (or both). Car insurers advise that you stop your vehicle in a safe area (to the side of the road, so that you won’t obstruct traffic), switch on your hazard lights and call for professional medical assistance, if necessary. Wait for help to arrive.

Step 2: Assessing the damage to vehicles

Car insurers further recommend that once the injured parties (driver and/or passenger/s) have been attended to, you should assess the damage to your car and any other vehicles or property involved in the collision/incident. It’s advisable to take several detailed photos of the damaged areas and objects (with your smartphone, if you can) from a variety of angles.

Step 3: Exchanging important information

While the situation might be quite stressful, Budget Insurance recommends that you remain as calm as possible. Avoid a confrontation with any other driver/s, and do not discuss who may be at fault, because this may escalate into a situation in which you or other parties may be harmed. Rather keep your wits about you. You will need to exchange the following information with the other driver(s):

Full name and surname as it appears on their South African identity card
ID numbers
Contact details (cellphone number, email address, business details, postal and/or physical address)
Vehicle registration
Description of the vehicle (model, make and colour)
Location of the car accident (street number and suburb)
The time of the incident
Road conditions and any other noteworthy points to consider
Name and description of any attending authorities, like paramedics, police officers or tow-truck drivers

Car insurers recommend you take some notes about what happened, before, during and after the accident (in case you forget specific details). All these points are very important if you decide to submit a car insurance claim to your insurer or the Road Accident Fund.

If your car needs to be towed, make sure you are using your car insurer’s authorised towing company to avoid an out-of-pocket expense.

Step 4: Report the car accident to the police

You are required to report any car accident to the police within 24 hours. You will be required to submit your name, address and vehicle registration details. You can also get a copy of the accident report upon request. It is an offence not to report an accident, especially if there are injured parties or damage to property, regardless of whether anyone intends to take legal action or file an insurance claim.

If you were injured during the accident and had to be hospitalised for treatment, report the accident as soon as possible thereafter and explain the reason for the delay.

Step 5: Report the car accident to your car insurer

Having followed the correct steps listed, you can now go ahead and report the accident to your car insurer and submit a claim, if necessary. Remember that you need to report the accident regardless of whether or not you will be claiming against your policy.

Car insurance to cover car accidents and collisions

Make sure that you select the right kind of insurance to insure your (or your dependent’s) vehicle, and that you fully understand the type of coverage you’re getting and what kind of options are available. Comprehensive car insurance from Budget Insurance will cover accident damage, theft, hijacking and third-party cover. Get a car insurance quote online.