Motor Vehicle Collisions have the effect of spiking your adrenaline however, it is very important for you to remain as calm as possible in such situations.

Here is a STEP-BY-STEP guide on what to do after a Motor Vehicle Collision.

1.   Once you have calmed yourself, stop your vehicle, no matter how minor you might believe the damage is.

2.   Check if anyone in the vehicle suffered any injuries and if so, do not attempt to move them but rather call an ambulance.

3.   If no one suffered any injuries you should move your vehicle to the side of the road if it is obstructing traffic, if the vehicle is damaged to a point where it won’t start, you should call a towing company for assistance.  

4.   Call your insurance company and inform them of the motor vehicle collision.

5.   Take note of information such as date and time of accident; take pictures of the damages sustained by the vehicles and pictures of the direction the vehicles were travelling from and to; the scene of the accident; and the name of the road because this information is essential for a claim of damages. 

6.   Get the full names, identity numbers, cell phone numbers of the parties to the collision and if the collision occurred in the scope of an individual’s employment, get the details of their employer.

7.   Take down the details of the motor vehicle such as the model, colour and the registration numbers. 

 8.  If the motor vehicles are insured, get the details of the insurer and their contact numbers.

9.   Call the South African Police Service and inform them about the collision, they will usually come to the scene in situations where the individuals suffered major injuries, if not they will ask you to come to the nearest Police Station to report the accident.

10. Make sure you have the accident report number because it is used for both insurance claims and for litigation.

If the parties to the collision don’t have car insurance, a claim can be made by way of litigation.

Factors that are considered by the court when negligence is alleged by one of the parties to the collision:

Did the driver fail to keep a proper lookout;

Did the driver fail to apply his brakes to prevent the accident;

Did the driver fail to and/or neglect to adhere to the rules of the road;

Did the driver drive the vehicle in a reckless and/or negligent manner;

Did the driver drive the vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

Any other ground of negligence that might become apparent during the trial.