What to do if you're involved in a motor vehicle accident

If you unfortunately find yourself in a car accident, below are some points of action that protect you financially.

First of all, if you’ve been in an accident, make sure you’re safe and not injured, along with your passengers, and others in the other vehicle. If so, assess the injuries and make a determination if an ambulance should be called.

If there were no injuries to any person’s, then if it’s safe to exit the vehicle, do so.

Make sure the vehicle has moved into a safe area off the road to avoid any further damages or injuries.

When you’ve exited the vehicle, assess the damages. Is it drivable? Will you need a tow truck? If you need a tow truck, call a local company and let them know your pick up destination. You can have them deliver your vehicle to a near by smash repairer, your home address, or their holding yard. Please note that holding yards can charge a daily storage fee.

Now, here is the most important part. Obtaining the information of the other party. It is crucial (especially if you believe you were not at fault for the damages) that you document as much as possible, including the other vehicle and drivers details.

• Vehicle make and model
• Registration
• Driver name
• Driver telephone contact number
• Copy of the other drivers licence (take a photo front and back)
• Driver’s home address
• Driver’s contact number
• Photos of the other vehicle including registration plates in the photo
• Insurer Name and policy number (or claim number)
• Address of accident
• Write down a brief description of the events and who was at fault

With this information, your Insurance Company will be able to contact the other party and ask them for their insurance details, including who they are insured with and what their claim number is. This aids in a successful recovery of any claim amounts that your insurer paid for the repairs of your vehicle. Withthis information, your Insurance Company will be able to contact the other party and ask them for their insurance details, including who they are insured with and what their claim number is. This aids in a successful recovery of any claim amounts that your insurer paid for the repairs of your vehicle.

Without this information, your insurer may not waive your excess, and may find you technically “at fault” if there is an unsuccessful recovery in claim payments. This will go on your claims history and could impact your premiums for years to come.

If you are insured through a Broker, contact them and provide them with this information to enable them to lodge a claim on your behalf.

The next step is to have your vehicle repaired. Usually, you would have your vehicle quoted and assessed and then the repairs subsequently approved. Depending on when the repairer can book you in, you could be waiting for a few weeks until a repair date. If this is the case, contact your Insurance Broker to see if you’re eligible for a hire car under your policy. If you’re insured directly, contact your insurer and query your policy coverage for the use of a hire car.

Once your vehicle is repaired, ensure you’re happy with the quality of the work, then happy driving!

• Make sure everyone is safe
• Move vehicle to a safe area
• Organise a tow truck if needed
• Obtain drivers information
• Take photos
• Contact Broker or Insurer to lodge claim
• Take vehicle in for a quote for repairs
• Book in and attend repair date

Claims can be stressful and time consuming. You could have difficulties with dealing with the other parties, long wait times on hold with insurers, delays with repairs, and pressure finding alternative transport whilst your vehicle is getting fixed.

Our free claims handling would include the below services, but not limited to;

• Lodging the claim with the insurer
• Speaking to the third party driver
• Facilitating tow trucks and repairs of vehicle
• Organising hire car

Please contact Morgan Insurance Brokers for a Motor Vehicle Insurance quote.

We hope the above can assist in the event of a car accident.