Figuring in a vehicular accident is one of the last things you would want to happen in your driving career. Lots of time and effort is wasted during and after, if and when you figured in one of them.
But accidents do happen when you least expect it. No matter how careful you are you cannot tell if someone on the road with you could bring harm to your vehicle at any given time.
With so many vehicles plying the roads that are either small or littered with hazards (potholes, bikes, motorcycles, stones, and many others), vehicular accidents are everyday scenes that you have to contend with. Pray that you wouldn’t figure with one.
Knock on wood, what if you figure in an accident while you are driving? Are you ready for such an event? What would be your reaction?
There are so many articles written on how to save on fuel while driving, but it’s very seldom to see one that has anything to do when you figure in an accident.
If and when that happens to you, the very first thing you need to do is to be calm and have a presence of mind in order to quickly react to the situation at hand.
You need to look after yourself first, that’s first and foremost. Inspect your body if you suffered any injury. If you are okay then try to be calm and composed before you get out of your vehicle. You need to see first your surroundings, especially at night, if there is any danger when you get out of your car.
If it is already safe, better grab your cell phone and immediately open the camera so you can take photos of your vehicle and the other party that figured in that accident. Make sure that you have taken shots of all angles both from a distance and up close together with the other party’s vehicle and its plate number since this is very important in filing a police report and also for an insurance claim. Also don’t forget to take the photo of the one driving the other party’s vehicle together with his license and the OR/CR of his vehicle.
This is one very important thing to do immediately since nobody will do this for you and the other party might suddenly move his vehicle without you knowing it, thus losing very important evidence of the accident. There are times when the other party simply flees especially when they are the ones to be blamed for the accident. So, even before a traffic officer comes in you need to quickly do this very important thing.
Having a “comprehensive insurance” for your vehicle is one sure answer for your question on who shall answer for the damages to your car. This is the reason why you need to know your car’s comprehensive insurance coverage dates and it is renewed yearly and on time, especially if your car is new.
Filing a police report is not an easy one as you need to spend time in the police station. You would be surprised to see a number of people filing the same complaints and reports at the station at any given time. That’s why you have to fall in line before your time is up. This is where you and the other party file your respective report of the accident and surrender your license, the OR and CR of your vehicles, and the photos taken from the accident scene. Be ready to spend at least 2 hours on this one.
After getting the police report, your ordeal is not yet finished since if the other party admitted his liability and will answer the cost of your car’s damages, you need to spend time getting your car to his designated motor shop where your car will be fixed. To avoid this, many owners who have their own comprehensive insurances choose to have their cars fixed by their trusted “casa” or motor shops.
So, if you choose this, bring your car immediately to your “casa” and get a damage estimate that shall form part of the entire requirement needed in having your insurance claim. Among those other needed by the insurance companies are copies of your car’s OR/CR, driving license, insurance policy, photos of the entire vehicle (front, back, both sides, and close-ups of the damages), photo of the odometer reading, photo of the VIN Plate or chassis of the vehicle, and your contact numbers.
Then be ready to have your car “surrendered” after your insurance claim is approved and your “casa” calls you for the scheduled repair. This would surely take several days to finish.
Well, isn’t it a lot of wasted time and effort? Again, drive carefully and pray hard for you not to figure in any road accident, today and ever after.