A recent poll from TD Insurance reveals that although 89% of Canadians feel they are ‘somewhat’ or ‘extremely’ likely to know what to do following an auto accident, only 31% know the exact steps to take. In a real-life situation, how prepared would you be to deal with an accident safely and efficiently?
“Fender benders resulting from drivers making sudden stops in intersections, or pulling out of a parking spot without checking first happen every day, so it’s important to be prepared and know what steps to take afterwards,” says Dave Minor, a vice president at TD Insurance. “The actions you take after a minor accident can affect your insurance coverage, so be sure to review the steps with your insurance provider when you renew your policy each year.”
Minor offers the following tips to drivers:
- Keep calm – Being in an accident is stressful, but try not to panic or make rash decisions. Don’t accept money or admit fault for the collision, and don’t agree to just forget about it. Most drivers (87%) say they know not to accept money or accept fault, as this can affect the coverage their insurance company will provide for the incident.
- Safety first – Check to make sure everyone involved is safe. If anyone is injured, do not move them, doing so could worsen their injuries. If you’re able to safely move your vehicle out of the flow of traffic, and protect it from further damage, do so. “Your number one priority after getting into an accident is making sure everyone in the vehicle is safe. Once you’ve established the safety of the passengers, take steps to protect everyone from any additional damage by moving your vehicle out of traffic.”
- Call the police – Call 911 to report the accident if anyone is injured, if you believe that there is major damage to your vehicle, or if you think a criminal act may have been committed.
- Take notes – Include details of the accident and identification of the vehicles and people involved, including emergency personnel or witnesses on scene. If possible, take pictures or video, and/or draw a diagram of the accident scene to assist with documentation of a claim. Keep a notepad, pencil, and a checklist of things to do after a collision in your glove compartment, just in case.
- Call your insurer – Most insurance policies require you to report any accident involving loss or damage to people or property. If you don’t report an accident, it may affect your coverage down the road. If another driver involved reports the accident, their insurance company may contact your insurance provider, which could lead to cancellation or non-renewal of your policy if you have not reported the accident yourself. “Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to inform them of the accident, not only to cover yourself and your car, but for help with how to handle the situation,” says Minor. “Your insurance provider can confirm all of the information you should be collecting from the other party. They can also offer a list of recommended repair shops in your area that can help with getting your vehicle back in shape even faster. Review your policy before repairs are made to make sure you understand the limitations of your coverage.”
TD Insurance commissioned Environics Research Group to conduct an online custom survey of 2,466 Canadians aged 18 and older, who have driven in the past 12 months. Responses were collected from February 7-18, 2013.
Do you provide your clients with information on what to do and who to contact in case of an accident. Are you familiar with how accidents can affect their auto insurance rates?
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