Car accident - what to do?
What should you do if you have been in a car accident or witnessed a car accident?
The first step is to ensure safety at the scene of a car accident, namely:
- turn on the emergency light signaling system;
- wear a special protective vest;
- place an emergency stop sign 100 meters away from the accident site (200 meters on highways).
- Remove the part and parts related to the vehicle from the road in case of minor damage, if it is difficult to do so leave everything as it is until the situation is fully documented.
If there are casualties, call the emergency services immediately on 112.
First aid should be given to the injured if necessary.
You should also call the police on 110. The police who arrive at the scene will record the car accident and draw up a report for further proceedings. Such a report is preferable to the standard European accident report, which the parties to the accident fill out themselves if the police are not called. If the damage is minor and there are no casualties, the police may not be called.
Do not forget to write down the details of all participants and witnesses to the accident:
- Full name and address;
- vehicle license plate number;
- name of the insurance company;
- number of the insurance contract.
It is also necessary to photograph the scene of the car accident from different angles. Try to include as many details as possible that may be needed to recreate the image of the car accident. Take pictures of all visible damage to the vehicles of all parties involved in the accident.
Only then remove the cars from the road, and only if all parties to the accident agree.
If you have even the slightest doubt in your own innocence in the accident, be sure to notify your insurance company. Contact the insurance companies of the other parties involved in the accident only through your attorney. Be sure to call an independent automobile expert (car appraiser) to assess the damage. These actions will save you from many tricks that insurance companies resort to in order to reduce payouts.
If the insurance company of the accident perpetrator promises to take care of everything “quickly and for free”.
Do not agree under any circumstances!
No matter what the insurance company claims, from an economic point of view, it is your opponent, and the less it pays, the more it earns.
You should not let the situation in case of an accident out of control, and urgently call an independent automobile expert. This way, you can not only get a higher amount of compensation for the damage (thanks to a fair valuation), but also other payments that the insurance company is likely to keep silent or “forget” to tell you about.
According to case law, an injured party has an unrestricted right to consult with his or her trustee or automobile expert to rule out the possibility that the injured party will suffer the entire loss. The right to consult an automobile expert also applies if the insurer expressly waives the right to call an expert. In case of doubt, it is not the right of the party at fault for the accident that caused the damage, but the right of the injured party to have an independent car expert assess the damage.
