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Financial Services > Insurance
> Car
> Guide
> Reduce the stress of an accident
Having an accident can be very upsetting to say the least. However,
if you try to be prepared it will make the experience somewhat more
manageable. We have prepared a guide, to help you should you be
involved in an accident.
Items that you should have in
your car
1.
A pencil or pen and some paper, you will need this to make a note
of the other driver's name, address and registration number.
2.
Also have some coins in a safe place (out of site) for the telephone,
you may need to call for a recovery
unit or your insurance company. Keep these numbers handy.
3.
Call the police if the accident is bad or if someone is injured.
4.
Keep your mobile phone to hand.
5.
A torch and a warning triangle, in case an accident happens at night.
6.
A disposable colour camera. This
can be proof of how the accident happened,
and proof of what you are saying. This is especially important if
you need to take action at a later date.
7.
A blanket and first aid
box.
Stay calm and in control at all times. The situation
will get worse by shouting or arguing with each other. Do not threaten
or try to lay blame at any time.
Do not say anything that may interfere with the settlement process. Don't ever accept responsibility, this may affect how long it takes to get a settlement with your insurance company. Remain polite and calm; simply ask about the other driver's well being, even when faced with a hostile person.
The Police
You should call the police if you have a bad accident or
if you are unsure about anything. If someone is injured, the police
will come to the scene and complete an accident report. This report
will detail physical evidence such as the length of any skid marks,
whether each car's equipment was in working order, and the point
of impact of the two vehicles. They will log the time and place
of the accident, the license plate numbers and descriptions of cars,
and also names and addresses of the drivers and the owners of the
vehicles (if not the driver). They may also interview witnesses.
Don't be alarmed if the police breathalyse you, this is normal practice
and you will be fine as long as you are under the legal limit.
For your own part, you should take note of the name and badge number
of the officer attending the scene, along with the name of the road
and junction where the accident has taken place. This will make
any necessary follow up by yourself or your insurance company much
easier and quicker.
Exchanging information
You should exchange full
details with the other driver. This includes their name, addresses,
telephone number, and insurance company. Also take their policy
number if they have it to hand. If you think their
are any discrepancies with the information they have provided,
make sure you get the license plate number, and make and model of
the other car(s) involved; the police will want this in case the
other party tries to leave the scene of the accident before they
arrive.
Try to get the details of witnesses if there were any.
Immediately after an accident
If the police are called, an ambulance will often be called as well, even
if there do not appear to be any injuries, this is normal practice. However,
if no ambulance is called you should always have a check up with your
doctor. This will rule out any concussion and ensure there is a record
on your notes should you have a delayed reaction after the accident.
Consider your policy excess
If your insurance policy says that you
must pay the first £400 worth of any claim, you should bear this
in mind when you are considering your options. If the damage to
the car is around £400, it is not normally worth involving your
insurance company, as any claim will normally increase your premium;
you may also lose your no claims bonus. Before deciding on this,
however, you should get two written estimates from reputable repairs
companies.
Insurance company
If you have had no more than a minor accident, contact your
insurance company immediately, that way it will not reflect badly
on you should the case be taken further. The claims department of
the insurance company will need all the information on the accident,
both from your point of view, and that of any other parties involved.
They should also be informed if the police or ambulance were called.
Your insurance company will contact their loss adjuster; they will
be responsible for looking into the claim. They will probably want
you to take your car to an authorised repair shop so that the can
look at the damage and the repair shop will probably take pictures
and send them to the loss adjuster.
If the accident was your fault, and you have comprehensive
insurance the insurance company will pay for damage on both cars
to be rectified. If the other party is found to be the cause of
the accident, then his or her insurance company will pay for the
damages. If no fault is determined, each insurance company will
normally pay half.
If you have insurance and the other driver has broken the
law and does not have insurance, and they are found to be at fault,
your insurance company will cover the cost of the repair if you
have comprehensive cover. If you do not have comprehensive cover,
you may have to try and recover expenses yourself from the other
party involved. You will need to start by sending them a letter
and a copy of the repair bills or estimates. It will be necessary
to work out a payment schedule with that person if they cannot pay
the whole amount in full. If he or she refuses to pay, your only
recourse will be to take them to court.
Your
insurance company will want at least one damages repair estimate
from an authorised car repair shop however we recommend you also
get 1-2 more quotes to get the best deal you can Click here. Remember to ask how long it will
be before they can start work, and how long the job will take. If
you go to one of the insurance company's authorised repair shops,
they should pay the bill directly to the shop.
With
thanks to uk-car-insurance-advice.co.uk with helping to provide some of
this information:
http://www.uk-car-insurance-advice.co.uk
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