What To Do After A Car Accident
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I Had a Car Accident: Now what do I do next?
Check out this handy checklist from An Post Insurance!
Whether it’s a nudge in a car park or a more serious crash on the road, many of us will hear the squeal of brakes and the crunch of a bumper at some point in our lives while driving in Ireland. Thankfully, most car accidents involve no more than some scuffed metal and a bruised ego or two, but they do make for a stressful experience. Being prepared can help you avoid panic and get the best result from a difficult situation.
Based on An Post Insurance’s many years of experience working with Irish motorists, they’ve put together a handy checklist of what to do if you are in an accident while driving in Ireland. Keep it in mind should the worst happen when you’re behind the wheel.
1. First things first
If somebody is injured, call the emergency services straight away. If not, you’ll still need to contact An Garda Síochána, as they need to be informed as soon as possible after an accident, and definitely within 24 hours if the crash injures a person or animal or if your car is stolen or damaged. Apart from the legal requirement to contact the Gardai, they’ve also seen plenty of accidents before, and will be able to help guide you through the process.
2. Keep your cool
It’s easy to get flustered and perhaps even angry in the event of an accident, but it’s important that you don’t get into a conversation about blame and don’t accept responsibility – you don’t want to make an off-the-cuff statement you might regret later. Try to stay calm and polite – even if it means counting to ten several times over!
3. Take notes
You’ll need to take the registration numbers and insurance policy numbers of all the cars involved (if the licence plate is damaged, you can find these on the tax disc and insurance disc on the windscreen). You should also get the name, mobile number and the address of the other driver, and any witnesses that might have seen the accident. It’s a good idea to keep a pen and paper in your car for this purpose – it can be difficult to type into a phone if you’ve had a shock. If you feel up to it though, your mobile phone is a great resource for taking photo and video notes – try to capture details of the car’s position on the road and close-up images of any damage caused.
4. Let the experts do their work
Your car insurance company is there to help in exactly this type of circumstance. The Claims department will liaise with the other parties involved, so you should send them all correspondence or information you receive relating to the accident and let them respond for you.
5. Don’t forget the cuppa!
In Ireland, someone will usually offer you a cup of sugary tea after a minor accident. There may not be any medical proof of its powers, but that first sip of hot tea can feel pretty miraculous when you’re in need of a little comfort and calm.
If you want to find out more about car insurance that goes the extra mile, get a car insurance quote from An Post Insurance now or reach out directly on 1890 22 22 22.
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What To Do If You Are Involved In A Car Accident
There’s no denying it, car accidents are frightening and when they happen they can often leave you feeling flustered and unable to think straight. While nobody wants to think about it, knowing what to do in the event of a car accident can help you cope better. FBD have created a handy checklist of general tips to help you to get through the experience.
First of all…..
- Stop the car as soon as possible – it is a criminal offence not to do so. If your car is still in motion, pull over as soon as you can, turn off the engine and switch the hazard lights on.
- Make sure you and any passengers are safe. Check if anyone is hurt and call 999 if necessary.
- Take a few deep breaths and stay calm as much as possible.
- Don’t apologise, admit fault or even discuss the accident at the scene. Notify your car insurance provider immediately.
Record some important details….
- Make a note of all injuries and damage, draw a sketch map of the scene and take photos if you can.
- Get the registration and insurance company name and policy number of all the other vehicles. This should be on the insurance disc on the windscreen.
- Exchange names and addresses with the other drivers, passengers and witnesses.
- Take any reasonable emergency steps to avoid further loss, like moving the vehicles safely off the road, once you've recorded the details of the scene.
What’s next?
- Notify the authorities immediately (and no more than 24 hours later) if any person or animal is injured or if your car is stolen or damaged on purpose.
- If you are FBD Insurance customer, send any correspondence or notice of prosecutions you get unanswered. If you are not FBD Car Insurance customer, contact your insurer for more information.
- Only go ahead with permanent repairs or get rid of any parts with your insurer’s agreement. If you don't, your claim may not be covered.
Make sure you’re prepared for any accidents or mishaps with a car insurance quote from FBD Insurance.
Disclosure: This article has been provided by FBD Insurance and is paid for content.
