A topic that is not often spoken about but that, unfortunately, happens daily is car accidents. No matter how well you drive, sometimes things can go wrong and you can find yourself in a minor car accident. Sometimes it is something that you did wrong, sometimes it is the fault of the other driver and sometimes it has little to do with either of you but the weather conditions were poor and you happened to bump the person in front of you. Regardless of the reason for the accident, there are certain steps that you must do following the accident, so that you and the other driver stay safe legally.
Show Your Driver’s License ID and Take The Other Driver’s Too
When it comes to being in an accident, certain legal formalities come into play that surpass the emotional toll that the accident could have. The most important one, after calling the traffic police, is whether or not you are allowed to legally drive. If you are operating a car without a valid driver’s license within that country or an international copy, then it does not matter who was at fault, you will be the culprit as you were the person in the wrong. Just like with anything, whether you’re looking at the rules in sporting events, the laws around casino games in bonus.ca or how accident liability works, you need to make sure you are on solid legal footing. This can be done by having your driver’s license ID in your possession and showing it to the other driver.
The rules do not only fall upon you but on the other driver too. They also need to have their ID with them and be able to show this to you.
Inspect and Record the Damage
The next thing you’re going to want to do is calmly inspect and record the damage. A key idea in this case is to find a witness who saw the whole thing happening. This is the best way to ensure that you are giving the insurance company as much reason to trust you as possible, as the witness is a third-party person with no skin in the game, making their testimony more believable.
A great way to ensure things go smoothly when it comes to the repairs is to document the entire ordeal. You can either do this by writing it down (which is often done by the police officer that you should have called), taking some photographs or even taking a video. Both you and the other driver can do these individually, to ensure that as many angles are included as possible.
Exchange Insurance Information
The next thing you are going to want to exchange with the other driver is your personal details, such as your name and phone number, so that you can get in contact with each other. But almost more importantly than that, you will want to exchange your insurance information, whether it’s a rental or the individual’s personal vehicle. This must be shared between the drivers so that there is mutual trust and the knowledge that the person who was at fault has the comprehensive cover to supply the mechanical repairs that the other driver might need. This is a vital step in the process that many drivers forget, as they get caught up in the heat of the moment but one that you should not overlook.
Stay Calm
Finally, something that you should carry with you throughout this whole process is a sense of calm. There is no point in getting upset with the other driver. The accident has already happened and no amount of shouting is going to put you back in time. Therefore, the best approach is to stay calm, logical and critical. Proceed with capturing the individual’s information, sharing your license details, speaking about the damage, finding a witness and then exchanging insurance information. Do all of this with a sense of relaxation and stillness. The situation is already stressful enough, you do not need to make it worse by being hectic.