How to react well in the event of an accident
While you should always try to avoid accidents, sometimes you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. Accidents can happen, even when your liability is not at issue. In the event of an accident, staying calm and following a few basic tips can help you meet your obligations, protect your rights, and deal with the immediate situation effectively. Accident reporting procedures vary among provinces and territories in Canada. We therefore invite you to consult the relevant government websites for information specific to your region.
Immediately after an accident
Try to stay calm and make sure your vehicle has come to a complete stop, then:
Place the vehicle in park and turn on the hazard warning lights.
Check to see if you or someone else is injured. If there are injured people, do not try to move them. Call 911 for emergency assistance.
Perform a quick damage inspection. Most jurisdictions have a threshold for total damage costs beyond which you must call the police. In Ontario and Alberta, for example, if the amount of damage on all vehicles exceeds $ 2,000, then you must call the police and an accident report must be completed. Some jurisdictions provide for an amount of only $ 1,000.
You must report an accident to the police when:
One person was injured.
The accident involved a government vehicle.
One of the drivers involved in the crash does not have car insurance.
The accident involves a pedestrian.
The damage to private or municipal property is significant.
You should call 911 in the following cases:
One person was injured in the crash.
You think one of the drivers has committed a criminal offense.
Watch out for oncoming traffic. From a safe vantage point, document the accident by taking photos or drawing the scene. Try to take pictures of the visible damage as well as the position of all vehicles, license plate numbers and other drivers for future reference.
If the situation allows (that is, when the damage is minor and there are no injuries), move your vehicle to a safer location, away from traffic. Remember to take your photos first, if it is safe to do so.
Ask the owner or driver of the other vehicle for their name, the name of their insurer, their policy number, and the make, model, year and license plate number of their vehicle. Give the police your personal information if requested. Collect contact information for anyone who witnessed the accident.
Do not leave the scene of the accident until you have completed all of the previous steps and concluded that the police presence is not necessary.
If the damage is less than $ 2,000 or $ 1,000 (depending on jurisdiction), report the accident to the nearest collision reporting center (if your jurisdiction requires it) within 24 hours or within the prescribed time frame by the law.
Before reporting the accident to your insurance company, call your insurance broker for claims advice if:
The accident happened during office hours.
There is no urgency.
You don't need a replacement car right away.
Otherwise, report the accident using your insurer's dedicated claims line, available 24 hours a day.
Additional tips
Now that we have gone through what to do in the event of an accident, here are some more things you should consider:
Try to avoid altercations with other drivers and passengers and do not try to determine who is at fault. Do not admit your liability to third parties. Describe the details of the accident as it occurred to the police officer, if applicable, or your broker or insurance company.
The insurance companies will determine the liability of each party.
Beware of fraudulent accidents aimed at extracting claims from insurance companies. If the circumstances of the accident seem suspicious, report them to the police and your insurance company.
Also beware of scams from towing companies. If you must have your vehicle towed, make sure you are not overpaying for this service. Call a towing company recommended by the police or your insurance company and have your vehicle towed to the collision reporting center
إرسال تعليق