Picture the scene. You’re stopped at a red light, waiting for it to go green. Listening to your favourite music always calms you down… but then you both hear and feel a mighty thud on your rear bumper. You’ve just become involved in a ‘not my fault’ accident. So, what should you be doing right now? Let’s cover the basics.
Examine the situation
The most important thing to do first and foremost is to see what has happened, precisely. If there have been any injuries during the accident, whether to yourself or the person who collided with you, 000 should be called immediately. Further, be sure to turn off your engine, and switch on your hazard/warning lights, as per the NSW Transport Department’s best practices. Whether 000 is called or not though, do what you can to prevent further accidents, but above all, keep yourself safe while doing so!
Exchange details and be careful
Exchanging details is not only courtesy, it’s critical for any insurance claims. However, the important thing is to be careful with your phrasing, since if you admit fault, that could be thrown back at you, even if the reality of the situation is that it wasn’t your fault! Be clinical, and only say what you need to say with direct language. In addition to this though, one thing that people often forget is to get the contact details of any witnesses. This is incredibly important for you as the person not at fault, since your claims can be supported.
Gather evidence
For any insurance claim, it is important to have contemporaneous documentation, paperwork and similar. This includes taking photos of everything at the scene of the accident. Be sure to take photos of both your car and the one that collided with you. With smartphones packing the high-quality cameras and storage space that they do these days, there is no excuse to not have a full gallery of images, ready to go in case there is a dispute.
Call your insurance provider ASAP
At this point, at your earliest opportunity, now that everything is safe and you have everything you need, you should call your insurance provider. You should not delay, as this will potentially result in huge delays in your claim. Further, if you want to get a replacement courtesy car, which you are entitled to under Australian law, you’ll want to get that process going as soon as possible so that you can get back on the road.
Summary
It’s important to stay calm after an accident, and follow the key steps above: consider whether police need to be called immediately, get contact details, gather evidence, and then call your insurance provider. By following these simple steps, it will mean that if you need courtesy car hire, which is as said, your right under Australian law, you’ll be able to process that request as soon as possible. For any further questions, get in touch with us at 1800 699 034.
