With the high incident rate of accidents during the festive season, many motorists may be involved in a collision and may not be sure about the procedure or their legal obligations, CARtoday.com brings you a few points to bear in mind.
With the high incident rate of accidents during the festive season, many motorists may be involved in a collision and may not be sure about the procedure or their legal obligations, CARtoday.com brings you a few points to bear in mind.
These important tips are from CAR magazine’s DIY Cubby Companion.
Collisions:
- Stop immediately.
- Determine the nature and extent of any injuries and give all possible assistance to the injured.
- Call the police and an ambulance if any person has been killed or injured.
- Determine the nature and extent of any damage.
- If the vehicle obstructs the roadway completely, you may move it, after marking its position, but if any person has been injured or killed you should do so only after obtaining permission from a traffic officer.
- Produce your driver’s licence and report the collision to the police within 24 hours, and obtain a reference number, which you will need for the insurance.
Precautions:
- Record the scene of the collision through simple sketches and, if possible, take photographs.
- Avoid making statements that may be incriminating and do not admit liability.
- Record the identities of other parties and witnesses, and the circumstances of the collision.
- Do not move persons who have been seriously injured, and only assist insofar as you are capable or have been trained.
- Make sure that your vehicle is towed by a reputable tow-in service provider and obtain the charges in writing before your vehicle is hitched.
