The team at AXA have drafted this guide on what steps you should take if you’ve unfortunately been in a car accident.
What should you do at the scene of a car accident?
Stop your car
At the scene of an accident, you must stop your car as soon as possible as it’s an offence if you don’t. If it’s possible, drive your car into a safe space and stop it there so that it’s not blocking up a road and causing a traffic jam.
However, if the damage is too severe to continue driving your car, you should just stop your car, turn off the engine and switch on your hazard lights. If the road is being blocked by the cars involved in the collision, it’s important to ring the Gardaí so they can come to clear the cars and direct traffic.
Check for injuries
Once your car is safely stopped, check if you or any of your passengers have any injuries. If anyone is injured, you should call the Gardaí and an ambulance straight away, on 999 or 112.
Take a deep breath
It’s common to feel shaken after a car accident, so it’s important to take a moment to stop and take a couple of deep breaths. This will help to calm you down and allow you to focus on taking notes about, and photos of, the accident scene.
Exchange details
If there are Gardaí present at the scene of the accident they will ask you for your details. However, if there are no Gardaí present, it’s important to swap names, addresses, insurance details, registration plate numbers and the name and address of the vehicle owner (if it isn’t yourself or the other driver) with anyone involved in the accident. You should also note details of passengers and any witnesses. Exchanging details after a car accident is important in case queries are made or injuries are claimed in the weeks or months following the accident.
What should you take photos of when in a car accident?
You should take photos of the scene of the accident from as many different angles as possible. Aim to show the cars, the position they are in, any skid marks on the road and the extent of the damage to the cars. Photos showing the position that the cars are in and any skid marks can be important in determining who was responsible for the accident.
One key tip is to also take photos of any injuries you sustained during the accident.
How to report a car accident
A car accident must be reported to the Gardaí if someone involved in the crash is injured. So, in the event that there is no Garda present at the scene of the accident, you must report it to the nearest Garda station.
You should also report a car accident to the Gardaí if you suspect that the other driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if you suspect that the accident was caused deliberately.
How to make a car insurance claim after an accident
Ring your insurance company as soon as possible after the car accident to report the accident and make a claim.
You should have the following information ready to give to your insurance company when making a car accident claim:
● Your insurance policy number
● The car registration number for any cars involved in the accident
● The name, address, phone number and insurance details of other drivers involved in the accident
● Details of the accident and photos you took at the scene
If your car insurance policy is with AXA, you can report your claim online, call 0818 7 365 24 or by visiting one of our AXA branches.
Also, if you don’t plan on making a claim on your car insurance, you should still report the car accident to your insurance company so they are informed about it in the event that the other driver decides to make a claim.
