The Australian Government has made huge strides to improve road safety over the years from lowering speed limits to imposing heavier penalties. Despite these efforts, car crashes continue to cost the Australia economy billions of dollars a year.
The reality is that no matter how safe if you are as a driver, all it takes is one second of inattention to get into a car accident. Roads could also be more dangerous due to bad weather or other drivers could simply get distracted and cause a crash to occur.
Regardless of how an accident happens, you need to know the next steps to take. Here is what to do in the event that you are in a car accident.
At the Scene of an Accident
By law, all drivers involved in automotive accidents must stop immediately. If you are in a populated area such as on a freeway or residential road, move your vehicle to the side of the road if possible to avoid blocking traffic. Before doing so, take photos of the scene for insurance purposes.
If you are unable to move your vehicle, turn on the hazard lights and only exit the vehicle when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, call the police to have a report written up or call an ambulance if anyone is seriously injured.
Information to Exchange
You will want to collect as much information as possible to make sure that the claim is accurate. While you wait for the police to arrive, the following information should be exchanged with the other party:
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Name and address of the driver
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Car registration details
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Driver licence details
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Insurance details
It is also highly recommended to take down notes of the scene including the date, time, and any other details that might help with the claim such as weather conditions. Taking photos the scene and the surrounding area will also be helpful when filing a claim.
Call Your Insurer
The next step is to contact the company that provides the car insurance.
The insurance company will then walk you through the process on how to file a claim and will ask for your personal information. The insurer will also need the other driver’s insurance details. Be prepared to provide additional details surrounding the car accident so they can file a more accurate report.
If you get into a car accident in a rental car, you should still contact the police immediately to complete an accident report. Afterwards, call the rental company directly for further instructions on what to do next.
At Ace Rent A Car, excess reduction is available at a small cost for all vehicle rentals. This provides peace of mind and greatly reduces your financial liability in the event of an accident. If you have any further questions, our team is here to provide answers.
Contact us today to ask about our vehicle rentals and to learn more about reducing your damage liability.