What to do when involved in a vehicle accident
Ever wondered what to do when involved in a vehicle accident? We can tell you more about the right way to act.
One of the most important things to do when involved in a road accident is to notify the insurance company or broker immediately.
To simplify the claims procedure, policyholders should also ensure that they keep a note of the insurance reference number and the name of the person to whom they have reported the accident.
Other valuable tips about what to do when involved in a vehicle accident
- Contact or report the accident to the police. That must be done within 24 hours of an accident involving injury or fatality. If no one was injured or killed, it must be reported within one working day after the accident
- Always make a note of the policeman’s name, as well as the reference number of the accident report
- Co-operating with police and emergency personnel who arrive at the crash scene is of the utmost importance
- Obtain details of all vehicles involved in the accident. That includes a description of the vehicles, registration numbers and details of the license disks
- One must note the drivers’ details – names, ID numbers, contact information and addresses
- Also, make a note of the time and date of the accident; road and weather conditions at the time of the accident and any other relevant information
- Employees driving a company vehicle must also provide their names and the name of their employer
- Obtaining details from potential witnesses is also vital. That includes their names, contact numbers and addresses
- If possible, one should take photographs or videos of the accident scene from all angles, the surrounding area, property damage and injuries sustained in the accident
- Attach a sketch plan of the scene of the crash to a statement regarding details of the road accident
- In cases of injury, no matter how trivial, consult a doctor immediately
What happens if a person is not insured?
- An uninsured driver has to claim for vehicle and property damages directly from the guilty party
- If the claim is less than R15 000, one will have to refer the matter to the Small Claims Court
- In the event of damages exceeding R15 000, one will have to take the case to the Magistrate’s Court
Identifying negligent driving
- Speeding
- Failing to be alert
- Losing control of a vehicle
- Drunken driving
Can a person claim damages from the Road Accident Fund?
The RAF may compensate victims who sustained injuries in a road accident.
The RAF may compensate dependents of someone killed in a road accident.
Also, the RAF does not pay compensation for vehicle or property damages.
The RAF will consider claims for damages as a result of injury or death in accident cases involving negligent driving.
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