Texx
Super Moderator
Original Article Credit: malcolmgt
ok been thinking of doing this for a while now as seems no one these days knows what they should be doing at the scene of an accident.having had crashes in past and working in insurance i know what you should do.
BANG you have had your crash.
if safe to do so take photos immediately of the vehicles and their positioning in the road. this could help you if a dispute is raised by the other insurer.
Pull over in a safe location, making sure if anyone saw it ask them to pull over as well to be witness (see witness section).
check if everyone is ok, if there is even a slight note of an injury call the police and see if they want an ambulance to come.
exchange details with the other driver. details you should take.
Full name, Address of where they live, telephone numbers (test they work), Vehicle registration, make and model of vehicle. a small description of the other driver.
take photos of the driver if you can just in case they deny being involved.
take photos of boths car and there damages, making sure you have a picture of their whole car. once again just in case they try to deny involvment.
Scenerios
driver driven off
so you have been hit and the person is trying to drive off.
make sure you get the registration down correct and make and model if possible a description of the driver.
once again scowl around for any witness' who can verify what happened.
call the police straight away, advise them what has happened.
if you feel at threat
You pull over and the other person is going mental, lock your doors straight away.
call the police and ask for immediate help.
toot your horn to try and get any other road users pull over and help you.
when the police come explain all to them.
Police
If police do come, make sure you note down all the details below to help your insurer.
Name of PC/PC's
Their badge numbers
What office they are from, getting their address
the telephone for that office.
the reference number.
If they take the details of the other party make sure you have them too.
Witness
A witness is someone who has seen the accident happen. they do not have to be in a vehicle they can be a passer by.
A witness cannot be someone you know as a witness needs to be independant. aka not known to either party involved.
a person in your car cannot normally be used but in scotland they have different rules, if the person is in the car in scotland they can be used as a witness.
make sure you get contact details for the witness like name, telephone and an address.
CALLING THE INSURER
even if your not a fault you need to call your insurer, advise them in detail of what happened. they will go over details with you.
they most likley will send out an accident report form to you as well.
this is where your photos come in handy to back up your version of events.
Try use google earth to get a photo of the location and draw the vehicles on this. its more helpful than you think.
the more detail the better!
i have tried to cover a few points here but im sure i have missed quiet alot.
any questions just drop a message.
ok been thinking of doing this for a while now as seems no one these days knows what they should be doing at the scene of an accident.having had crashes in past and working in insurance i know what you should do.
BANG you have had your crash.
if safe to do so take photos immediately of the vehicles and their positioning in the road. this could help you if a dispute is raised by the other insurer.
Pull over in a safe location, making sure if anyone saw it ask them to pull over as well to be witness (see witness section).
check if everyone is ok, if there is even a slight note of an injury call the police and see if they want an ambulance to come.
exchange details with the other driver. details you should take.
Full name, Address of where they live, telephone numbers (test they work), Vehicle registration, make and model of vehicle. a small description of the other driver.
take photos of the driver if you can just in case they deny being involved.
take photos of boths car and there damages, making sure you have a picture of their whole car. once again just in case they try to deny involvment.
Scenerios
driver driven off
so you have been hit and the person is trying to drive off.
make sure you get the registration down correct and make and model if possible a description of the driver.
once again scowl around for any witness' who can verify what happened.
call the police straight away, advise them what has happened.
if you feel at threat
You pull over and the other person is going mental, lock your doors straight away.
call the police and ask for immediate help.
toot your horn to try and get any other road users pull over and help you.
when the police come explain all to them.
Police
If police do come, make sure you note down all the details below to help your insurer.
Name of PC/PC's
Their badge numbers
What office they are from, getting their address
the telephone for that office.
the reference number.
If they take the details of the other party make sure you have them too.
Witness
A witness is someone who has seen the accident happen. they do not have to be in a vehicle they can be a passer by.
A witness cannot be someone you know as a witness needs to be independant. aka not known to either party involved.
a person in your car cannot normally be used but in scotland they have different rules, if the person is in the car in scotland they can be used as a witness.
make sure you get contact details for the witness like name, telephone and an address.
CALLING THE INSURER
even if your not a fault you need to call your insurer, advise them in detail of what happened. they will go over details with you.
they most likley will send out an accident report form to you as well.
this is where your photos come in handy to back up your version of events.
Try use google earth to get a photo of the location and draw the vehicles on this. its more helpful than you think.
the more detail the better!
i have tried to cover a few points here but im sure i have missed quiet alot.
any questions just drop a message.