Unfortunately, at some point, you’re likely to have a car accident or two. In fact, research shows that the average person should expect to be involved in three to four car accidents in their lifetime. Much like reliable roadside assistance, full comprehensive car insurance is something you don’t ever want to be caught without. You might be a great driver but what you cannot control while you’re on the road is other drivers.
Even if you’re not the one at fault, just knowing that you’re covered no matter what the circumstances of the other driver, will make the entire ordeal of being in an accident much less stressful.
Here’s everything you need to do if you’re involved in an accident.
Ensure that you and everyone else is safe.
- Put your hazard lights on to warn other drivers of the danger.
- If possible, move your car to the side of the road by driving or pushing it out of the way of oncoming traffic.
Is everyone alright?
The most important thing is yours and everyone else’s wellbeing. You can worry about the damage and whose fault it is later.
- Make sure everyone in your vehicle is okay. When it’s safe, remove your passengers from the car and off the road.
- Ensure no one from other vehicles requires medical attention. Are they responding, comprehensive and making sense?
Call the police, and if needed, the ambulance, fire and SES crew.
- Unless it’s a very minor incident, police should attend.
- Dial 000 for the police, ambulance, fire and SES rescue.
Avoid getting into a discussion about who’s fault it is
Avoid pointing the finger or laying blame – and do NOT admit to it being your own fault. Not only can it escalate into a heated dispute in an already stressful, upsetting situation, especially if both parties feel the other is at fault, but insurance companies advise to let them decide who was at fault.
Collect the information needed to make a claim
By law, you’ll need to provide and collect the following information with the other parties involved in the traffic collision:
- Car registration
- Car make and model
- Driver’s licence number
- Full name
- Address (check the back of the card for most current address)
- Date of birth
- Insurer
- Is the car registered to the driver?
- If not, get the registered owner’s full name & insurer
- Get contact details of any witnesses to the accident
Take pictures
With your smartphone, take pictures of the damage to the cars and any information that will help show what happened in the accident.
Call a tow truck
Unless it’s a very minor incident, you should not drive your car away from the crash site. Bear in mind that your car must be roadworthy to be legally drivable, but also, by driving after an accident, you run the risk of causing greater damage to the engine that won’t necessarily be covered as part of the accident damage.
Call in a tow from Newcastle Roadside Assistance. For 24/7, roadside assistance, call: 0477 004 159
Get checked out
It’s a good idea to be checked over by a medical professional after a road accident. You may feel fine to start but oftentimes, pain sets in after all the adrenaline and shock subsides, which could indicate a more serious injury.
Start a claim
Having all the information to get the ball rolling, you’ll now be able to contact your insurer and make a claim.
Pay-As-You-Go Local Roadside Assistance
NO Membership Service – only pay when you need us
Available 24 hours, 7 days a week
If you’re unlucky enough to find yourself caught up in an accident, call the Newcastle Roadside Assistance team on 0477 004 159 – we’re open 24/7 and we’re more than happy to get you on your way.
