Car accident

A traffic collision, also called a motor vehicle collision (MVC) or many other terms, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree or pole. Traffic collisions often result in injury, death, and property damage.

A number of factors contribute to the risk of collision, including vehicle design, speed of operation, road design, road environment, and driver skill, impairment due to alcohol or drugs, and behaviour, notably speeding and street racing. Worldwide, motor vehicle collisions lead to death and disability as well as financial costs to both society and the individuals involved.

A number of factors contribute to the risk of collision, including vehicle design, speed of operation, road design, road environment, and driver skill, impairment due to alcohol or drugs, and behaviour, notably speeding and street racing. Worldwide, motor vehicle collisions lead to death and disability as well as financial costs to both society and the individuals involved.

1. Stop

However minor an accident is, you must stop. If you don’t, you’re committing an offence under the Road Traffic Act. Make sure you switch off your engine and turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers.

2. Exchange details with the other driver

Swap names and addresses with any other drivers involved in a collision. If it’s a minor accident – minor damage, no injuries, no animals involved, no offence committed – that’s all you need to do. If no other driver is involved, but you crash into, say, a parked car, you should leave your details on the windscreen.

3. Call the emergency services

If anyone has been injured, you should call an ambulance and the police as soon as possible. If there are no injuries but the accident is blocking the road, you should call the police.

If the police don’t come out to the scene of the accident, you should go to a police station to report the accident within 24 hours.

4. Note down the details of the accident

As soon as you can, write down a detailed description of what happened. Collect as much information as you can and, if possible, take photographs. Make a note of the:

• time and date

• location

• weather conditions

• traffic conditions

• road markings, signs and signals

• vehicles involved (make, model, registration number, colour, condition, estimated speed, direction of travel, use of lights or indicators, the number of passengers)

• people involved (contact details of all drivers, passengers, pedestrians and witnesses involved; description/distinguishing features of the other driver(s); details of any police officers involved)

• any cameras – CCTV, dash cams, mobile phones, etc – which may have caught the incident on film.

5. Get in touch with your insurance company

Let your insurer know what’s happened as soon as you can. You should do this even if you don’t intend to claim or you think the other driver involved isn’t going to claim. You never know what’s going to happen and telling your insurer quickly will help if the accident does lead to a claim.

What to do if you come across an accident 

If you see an accident happen or come upon the aftermath of an accident, you may want to help. This won’t always be practical.

For instance, if you’re on a motorway or a dual carriageway, don’t slow down unnecessarily as this could lead to another accident or a traffic jam that slows down the emergency response vehicles.

You should also only stop if it’s safe for you to do so.

In the confusion following an accident, remember to take care of all medical needs first. If you are not seriously injured, the following are ten important things that will help you make sense of a confusing situation and protect yourself and your family, after the fact.

Assess the Situation 

Before you act, take a brief moment to gather basic information from the scene. What is your own medical condition and the condition of your passengers? Are there any continuing dangers like fires or oncoming traffic? Take whatever means are necessary to secure your safety and the safety of your passengers before anything else.

Begin with Immediate Emergencies

If you and your passengers are safe, then check the driver(s) of the other car(s) involved in the accident and any passengers they may be carrying. Check for pedestrians, motorcyclists or bicyclists who might have also been injured in the crash. Again, scan the scene for any immediate dangers and deal with them as necessary.

Call For Help

With any emergency needs attended to, call for help. If any one is injured call your emergency number and ask for emergency medical attention to be directed to the location. If no one is injured, call the local police, sheriff, or highway patrol as appropriate to your situation.

Attend the Injured

If there are injuries and no pressing danger (fire, etc.) then don't move the injured until medical help arrives. Instead, stay close by anyone who is injured, keeping them warm, and doing your best to make sure they remain conscious and alert.

Prevent Additional Injuries

If possible (and allowed by the laws of your state), make every effort to make the roadway safer and prevent additional injuries by moving the cars and providing a clear path for traffic. If there are any injured passengers who shouldn't be moved or if the cars are unable to be cleared, place flares, warning signs, and/or have someone direct traffic away from the scene.

Report the Facts

When medical help and law enforcement arrives, immediately report any injuries or ongoing emergencies. Answer any direct questions they ask about what happened to the best of your ability, but remember most insurance companies advise you -- do not admit fault (you may not know all the facts) and do not share your policy limits with anyone.

Collect Detailed Facts

As the situation begins to calm down, take time to record important information about the accident and those involved at the scene. Don't distract the EMTs or keep the police from doing their job, but try and get these facts in a safe and respectful way: