Accidents - What To Do

  

As we never plan to have an accident, when it occurs it can be quite a shock, and when in shock, the mind can go blank on you - so you forget what you should and should not be doing.  The following are a few tips to remember if you find yourself in an accident.  The accidents I'm referring to here are what amounts to be the vast majority, little knocks here and there, bumps and scrapes, like the type in this photo here.  The more serious accidents which involve significant injury the emergency services will certainly attend, and you can be guided by them - the following is not intended for accidents on motorways.  

First thing to say is forget about trying to lay any blame on anyone, it is completely irrelevant, let the insurance companies do what we all pay for them to do.  As tempting as it may be, don't get yourself involved in arguing about who is to blame - there is more important stuff to be done.

The first priority to think is 'INJURY' - is anyone injured?  Anyone means in or outside of vehicles.  With kids in cars, they tend to start crying, but it's important to make efforts to see if they are injured (neck whiplash injury is very common).  If anyone is complaining of pain, get someone to call for an ambulance - they need to know the rough age of the person injured, male/female, and whether they are conscious and breathing.

Now think 'FURTHER INJURY' - can anyone get further injured?  Sometimes the position of the vehicles involved can be very hazardous, re-position the vehicles if possible and necessary.  Prevent people getting out of the vehicles and standing aimlessly in the road - they are causing a further hazard by doing so, and could easily cause another accident.  Can you smell petrol?  Can you hear an unusual noise from the engine?  Is there oil dripping on the road?  Is there a significant amount of broken glass or other vehicle debris that would cause a hazard for other drivers?  These are all factors that should help you to decide whether to stay in the car or stand away from it (but not in the road).  

You now need to exchange your details with the other driver.  If you have an adult passenger with you get them to assist you in two ways while you speak to the other driver.  Think witnesses - pedestrians nearby, drivers in other cars (write their registration numbers) - some people turn up having witnessed the accident - get their name and contact number.  Also consider taking a photo of the position of the cars if the cars have not been moved - by taking a photo on your camera phone, this could prove to be very beneficial to the insurance companies.  1 or 2 photo's is all that is being advised here.

When you speak to the other driver - you both have to exchange your names, address, the registration of the vehicles, who owns it, and insurers details.  Very few people have their insurance details to hand despite it being a legal requirement to give them in the case of injury accidents; so taking a copy of your policy when you receive it from the insurers and putting that copy in your glovebox is a good idea.  If while you are talking to the other driver you smell alcohol, or suspect drugs may be affecting him/her call the Police.  Also, if you rather suspect that the details that you have been provided with are false, call the Police.  It is a sad fact that there are drivers driving on our roads with no insurance at all - these people will probably want to provide you with false details so that you cannot trace them after the event.  A good guide to whether someone is doing things properly is the general condition of the car eg tyres, lights etc - check it out.  If the other driver concerned is not prepared to wait for the Police, this is yet another sign that all is not well.  Whilst I would not advise this if you are alone, if you can get a photo of their face before they get back in the car and leave that may prove to be very useful to the Police - do not put yourself in danger trying to do this though.

The vast majority of times, people are law abiding, helpful and supportive when an accident happens.  Most people are not able to give you all their insurance details at the scene of an accident, but are more than happy to give you lots of other personal information (inc. telephone number, email address), and in the vast majority of situations, this works perfectly well, without the need for involving the Police at all.

When you get home, you will call your insurers, and notify them of the situation - remember that the other drivers' insurers may contact yours direct without speaking to you personally.  In cases where the other driver was unable to provide you with any insurance details, I would advise that if neither you nor your Insurers have heard from the other driver by the next day - then ring your Insurers and ask them if they would advise you to call the Police.
  
So remember, I'm talking little bumps here, 'rear end shunts' where a vehicle behind bumps into the vehicle in front, often causing no more than bumper damage, a cracked registration plate, a cracked glass casing - the kind of stuff in these photo's.  Anything more serious, such as when you suspect someone's driving was dangerous or reckless, you suspect alcohol/drugs, anyone is injured, you don't believe the other driver is giving true details - call the emergency services.  Do remember (particularly if you are female and driving alone at the time) that although there is a legal requirement to stop and exchange details after an accident, you do not have to be a victim to further distress from the other party involved.  You can either call the Police immediately due to the other drivers unreasonable behaviour at the scene of an accident or the law allows you to report the accident within 24hrs to the Police.  

I would advise that if you are unable to call the Police immediately but feel that your safety is being threatened by the actions of another driver, leave the scene and go IMMEDIATELY to a Police Station to report it, then inform your Insurers.   


ACCIDENTS (minor only):

Think safety - is anyone injured?  Is there risk of further injury?  (petrol/oil/debris)
Re-position vehicles if needed to prevent further collisions.
Think witnesses.  Think 2 photo's - only if the vehicles have not moved.
Do not stand in the road.
Exchange driver name, address, registration of car, who owns the car, insurers details.   


Knowing what to do when an accident occurs is important and should be discussed on your Driving Lessons with your Driving Instructor.  The consequence of being unprepared for this situation is that you not only put your own safety in danger but you could also cause further hazards to others.