No matter how safely you drive, there’s a good chance you’ll be involved in some kind of accident in your lifetime. If you were in one today, would you know what to do?
We’re going to run you through the most important steps to make sure you have everything covered. Based on what we see from people at accident scenes we attend, this information isn’t as common knowledge as it should be!
Run through these steps in order and you’ll know you have your bases covered.
Stay calm, now isn’t the time for blame
We get it, drivers can do some. . . interesting things sometimes and that can be frustrating. In the heat of the moment, it might be tempting to give them a piece of your mind.
The thing is, they’re probably pretty shaken too and being yelled at will only make things worse. Instead, try to stay calm through this encounter so you can get it over with quickly. Try to think about those times when you made minor mistakes that could have ended the same way.
By staying calm, you can move through these steps methodically to make sure you don’t forget anything important. We all know how important it is to gather the right info for your insurer!
Stop in a safe place, hazard lights on
When possible, try to get all vehicles to a safe spot to reduce the risk of more accidents. Any vehicles that are safe to move should be pushed or driven to somewhere away from the flow of traffic.
Even during the day, it’s a good idea to put your hazard lights on as well. Especially on the side of the highway where drivers are more likely to zone out, flashing orange lights will get their attention.
Once the vehicles are moved, make sure they’re all turned off and get yourself to a safe spot. Never stand in front of your car, try to move behind a guard rail or on the footpath instead.
If you’re okay, check on everyone else
Before you worry about the paperwork, do a quick check to make sure everyone is okay. Unless someone is in immediate danger, it’s best not to move anyone that’s been injured.
Instead, call 000 and do your best to keep them comfortable until help arrives. The emergency dispatcher will do a fantastic job of walking you through this.
Consider calling 000
Even if everyone seems to be safe and healthy, there are other reasons you might want to call 000 for help:
- Anyone has suffered an injury
- The accident caused serious damage to another vehicle or property
- The accident has created a dangerous situation
- Another driver appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Another driver fled the scene
Even if none of these situations apply, it’s still a good idea to report the accident to the police. In this case though, please don’t call 000 as this is a crucial emergency line.
Instead, either call or drive to the nearest police station to file a report. This is something your insurer is likely to request and needs to be done within 24 hours.
Also, note that you’re required to report any accident where total damage is over $3,000.
Exchange details with the other driver(s)
No matter what the situation, you should always exchange the below information with the other drivers. Even if it seems like a minor accident, you never know what might unfold in the near future.
Seemingly minor injuries may turn out much worse after adrenaline has worn off. What you thought was minor damage might turn out to be far more serious and expensive.
You want to record this information:
- Date, time and location
- Personal info from the other driver(s):
- Name
- Phone number
- Address
- Driver’s license number
- Vehicle registration
- Insurer
- Vehicle make, model and colour
- The vehicle owner’s details if they aren’t the one driving
We’ve even seen many cases where the other driver filed a false report as a form of insurance fraud. By exchanging details, you’re protecting yourself no matter what happens.
Take notes
You’d be surprised how unreliable our memory can be sometimes, especially after an event like this.
To make sure you have all the important information for your insurance claim and police report, start taking notes. Write down the following information if nothing else:
- The direction you and the other driver were heading prior to the incident
- Weather conditions (including placement of the sun if that was a factor)
- How the accident occurred
- Contact details for any witnesses
- The name, station and contact details of the attending police officer if they were called to the scene
With this information written down you won’t have to rely on your memory to recall these things later. This is particularly helpful if the matter goes to court.
Call your insurer
Now that everyone is safe and you have the basic details recorded, it’s time to make contact with your insurer. The sooner you can do this the better as they’ll ask a bunch of questions about the accident.
Even with your notes handy, they may still ask questions you didn’t think to write down. The fresher this is in your mind, the easier it’ll be to recall that info.
Call for a tow truck
If any of the vehicles involved are unsafe to drive, it’s time to get them moved asap.
Your insurer will likely be able to arrange a tow truck for you directly. If not, call a reputable tow truck company like Rudd’s Towing and have them on site quickly.
By doing this instead of just accepting the first truck that shows up, you’re keeping your vehicle and possessions safe. You’re probably also getting a better price this way too.
All of our trucks are GPS tracked and are driven by clean, professional drivers. We’re also a preferred contractor for a host of vehicle insurance companies so you know your items will be safe.
For a Brisbane tow truck, give us a call and we’ll have a driver on the way fast!