Share

11 post-crash tips!

EMERGENCY ON THE ROAD: What to do if you're in - or have to deal with - a road collision during you holiday trip.
EMERGENCY ON THE ROAD: What to do if you're in - or have to deal with - a road collision during you holiday trip.
Confusion, shock, perhaps you're injured... A crash can be traumatic and that can cause most drivers to be so overwhelmed that they forget what to do afterwards. Check out our top 13 post-crash tips!

A crash can be an extremely traumatic experience and sadly they've become a common occurrence for many South Africans. There's a lot of confusion in the event of a crash and most drivers are overwhelmed.

DRIVERS NEED POST-CRASH EDUCATION

Mark Mathomes, owner of Plan B Roadside Assistance, shares his insight on the "do’s and dont’s" when the screaming stops. Mathomes has 20 years experience in roadside assistance, says it's evident that many drivers have not been educated on the steps that need to be followed post-crash.

Here are 13 important things to remember:

1 Check if anyone has been injured. If there are any injuries call an ambulance or the traffic department which will in-turn alert them.
2 Ensure that you and your passengers are out of harm’s way by vacating the vehicle and moving out of danger.
3 It's imperative to take down details of parties involved in the incident. You need names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses so you or your insurance company can contact them. Other important particulars include ID numbers, licence numbers (include the code on the licence), vehicle registration numbers and the make and models of other vehicles.
4 Note important information such as the time of the crash, location, number of passengers, weather conditions and road surface conditions.
5 Take as many images of damage done to all vehicles involved. Should a party make a false claim the images will serve as proof against their claim.
6 All cases should be reported to the police, no matter how slight the damage. Should you not report the case the other party could claim that it was a hit-and-run or that you refused to provide your details. You’ll need an accident report to claim from your insurance.
7 Losing your temper could make the aftermath of the incident even worse. Stay calm and collected.
8 Don’t leave the scene until all details have been noted.
9 Don’t be dishonest when giving your statement to the police. By lying or exaggerating you are only jeopardising yourself.
10 Ask witnesses for their names and contact details, just in case legal action is taken.
11 Don’t wait too long to claim on insurance. If injuries occurred, it's important to mention this to your insurer to avoid any major financial claims.

Do you have any post-crash advice to share? Email us and we’ll publish your thoughts on Wheels24

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE