The accident story of Phindile Gwala is explained shortly below after some of the precautions we have highlighted here on what to do when involved in an accident in South Africa. Scroll Down:
There will be an increase in the number of passenger vehicles on the road in addition to the trucks, buses, and taxis as a result of the latest Covid-19 variant preventing South Africans from traveling internationally.
Even more so than usual, it’s crucial to follow all traffic laws and regulations this time of year, so don’t let your haste get in the way.
Your own, your passengers’, and your vehicle’s safety should always come first, but you should also keep an eye out for other vehicles and pedestrians, especially when traveling through less-populated areas.
But, alas, accidents occur, no matter how skilled a driver you may be. According to WesBank’s communications specialist Kutlwano Mogatusi, “being involved in a vehicle accident is both stressful and traumatic, regardless of the severity of the collision.”
The accident story of Phindile Gwala is explained shortly below after some of the precautions we have highlighted here on what to do when involved in an accident in South Africa. Scroll Down:
When filing an insurance claim and reporting an accident to the police, it is helpful to have a detailed account of what transpired immediately following the accident.
Be on the scene:
Put on your hazard lights and come to a complete stop. There must be no further movement of any vehicles involved in the accident. If doing so does not endanger anyone or anything, you should place a safety triangle sign well behind your vehicle. Even if you’re fine, it’s important to check on the other people in the car and, if necessary, call for an ambulance if anyone has been seriously hurt (remember that you can call 112 from any cellphone network in South Africa in an emergency: the call centre will connect you to an emergency service closest to you).
South African law mandates that in the event of an accident involving injuries to people or property, drivers and passengers must wait at the scene until a South African Police Service vehicle (SAPS) arrives.
Take pictures or videos using your phone, tablet, or camera, and write down or record a voice memo of all you can recall about the accident’s circumstances and outcomes, including the time, place, and technology you were using.
The accident story of Phindile Gwala is explained shortly below after some of the precautions we have highlighted here on what to do when involved in an accident in South Africa. Scroll Down:
After that, if it’s safe to do so, relocate the cars to the shoulder if they’re blocking traffic.
Collect information on the other drivers and cars involved in the accident, including names, phone numbers, vehicle information (make, model, color), license plate and driver’s license numbers, and, most crucially, insurance information.
The names, addresses, and phone numbers of any passengers who witnessed or were involved in the incident should be recorded.
Use only the towing service approved by your insurance company if your car is damaged beyond repair and needs to be towed. Before having your car towed away, make sure you get an estimate from the tow truck driver if you don’t have tow coverage via your insurance. Get the tow truck driver’s information (name, phone number, and license plate number) and track down where your automobile is being taken.
Wesbank recommends reporting the collision to the police and alerting your vehicle insurance company as soon as possible after the accident, even if you don’t think recording certain minor facts is necessary.
If police are not present at the site, a report must be filed at a station within 24 hours. If you are filing a claim with an insurance company or a third party, you will need an Accident Report number.
It’s vitally necessary to give a thorough explanation to your auto insurer. Give an accurate account of what happened, including who was at fault, whether or not anyone was hurt, and how much the accident cost. The claim could be denied if you give any misleading information.
Wesbank advised that while filing an automobile insurance claim, the policyholder consider factors such as the accident’s location, the weather, the road condition (including any hazards such as potholes or malfunctioning traffic lights), and so on.
For the police report and the insurance claim, you may need to produce a sketch of the accident scene in addition to your description.
Auto maintenance & repairs
According to Wesbank, if the other motorist caused the collision, their auto insurance provider must pay to fix your car if you file a claim and prove that the other driver was at blame.
If the other motorist does not have insurance, you or your auto insurance company will be responsible for paying for the damages.