If you think an accident might be your fault, it can make you feel awful! People often panic in these situations because they aren’t sure what to do next. Hopefully, we can clarify a few things. Fingers crossed you’ll never need this advice, but it’s good to know. Car accidents can happen to anyone.
Don’t Admit Guilt
We’re not telling you to lie, but the last thing you want to do is make yourself liable before you know all the facts. Even if you think it might be your fault, they could also be in the wrong – anything could have happened. A few seconds after a crash you’re going to feel more panicky than usual so don’t say anything rash. What you should do is stay calm, even if the other driver is irate. Don’t rush to figure out who’s fault it is straight away. You’ll only make it worse if you end up arguing about who has hit who.
Swap Details
When you do speak to the other driver, all you should be asking is if they need medical attention and for their details. Exchange your contact and insurance information and leave it at that. We can’t tell you how important it is that you don’t start to ask questions and apologize. If you spot any witnesses, you should also ask them for their details in case you need their help. At this point, you can take photos of the damage for your records, and ask if the other driver is okay with you taking pictures of their car.
Contact The Authorities
As soon as it’s safe to do so, you need to get in touch with the police and inform them that there has been an accident. While you wait, again, avoid arguing with the other driver! If the crash isn’t serious, you may want to contact a non-emergency number to inform them. If the accident is more severe or obstructing the roads, call the police right away. Make sure you’re honest with the police. People may hold back information because they don’t want to admit it’s their fault. If you’re found out to have been holding anything back, you could find yourself with other charges.
Contact Your Insurer
Once you’ve had an accident, you’ll want to get in touch with your insurance company. Again you need to be open and honest and tell them all the details. If you miss anything out it could affect your claim. Even if you haven’t had an accident, you should be wary of your policy when it comes to accidents. This way, you know what process you need to go through. If you’re unhappy with your accident cover, shop around on a comparison site such as ComparaEnCasa. If you don’t sort it out quickly, it could be too late by the time you have an accident. You need to be aware that if it were your fault, your insurance could go up dramatically.
Write Everything Down
As soon as you have the chance, write everything down. Writing things down will help you to work out if it was your fault. Look at any pictures you’ve taken and try to remember every detail of your journey. If it does seem like it’s your fault, you might want to seek legal advice before taking further action.
