What should you do in the event of an accident?

Following the report of a woman who panicked, crushing a student between two cars, AsiaOne Motoring approached the Automobile Association of Singapore (AA) for some pointers on how drivers can keep calm and help the situation.

A spokesperson from AA pointed out that shock suffered by the driver involved in an accident often results in confusion.

This could lead to a state of mind where the driver is not sure what he is supposed to do next.
Here are some important tips to keep in mind:

Stop your vehicle

Stop your vehicle, not only because you are required by law to stop at the scene of the accident, but also because this may prevent more injuries.

Provide or call for medical assistance

Remain calm. If anyone is injured, the first priority is to immediately call for an ambulance and the police.

If you are trained to do so, provide first aid. Do not move any vehicles and/or persons unless instructed by the police.

Warn other motorists

For non-injury accidents, you can move the accident vehicles to a safe place if the accident vehicles are obstructing traffic or if is posing a hazard to other road users.

For accidents with injury/death, vehicles are not to be moved unless instructed by the police. Use vehicle breakdown signs, lights, reflectors to warn other road users of the accident.

Important information to get a hold of

Exchange driver's particulars; name, NRIC, address, contact number, car registration number and name of insurance company.

If there are witnesses, take down their particulars and contact numbers. Record the date, time and location of the accident.

If a camera is available, take pictures of the damaged vehicles, otherwise take note of the damages on paper. Do not admit or discuss liability at this stage.

Report the accident

For accidents involving injury/death/pedestrian/cyclist/government or foreign vehicles/government property, make a police report as soon as possible or within 24 hours of the accident and complete the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) Motor Accident Report (MAR) Form as well.

For non-injury accidents, while not required to make a police report but parties involved would still need to complete and submit the GIA MAR Form to the insurers as soon as possible. The GIA MAR Form is available from the insurers.

Along the way, if you receive any Writ of Summons, Traffic Summons or any other correspondence from third parties, inform and provide full details immediately to your insurer.

Making an own damage (OD) claim

A. For comprehensive policies: 

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. You would be required to complete and return a Motor Accident Report form.

The insurance company may also require you to send your damaged vehicle to a specified workshop for repairs (this may be stated in your insurance policy). The insurance company would appoint an independent adjuster to assess the damages to your vehicle and negotiate the repair costs with the motor repairers.

Once this is agreed, the insurance company would authorise the repairs. After repairs have been completed, you should check that it is to your satisfaction before signing a satisfaction voucher and take delivery of the vehicle. The motor repairers would require you to settle with them any Excess which you have to bear, before releasing the vehicle to you. The balance of the repair costs would be billed direct to the insurance company.

Should you find any problems with the repairs done, it should be referred to the motor repairers without delay. Your insurance company should also be advised so that they may withhold payment of the repair bill until the problem is resolved.

B. For a third party motor insurance claim, that is, where you are making a claim against the other party: 

You must notify your insurance company that there has been an accident. You should then, on your own accord, contact the third party.

The third party's insurer will be informed by their insured on the matter and they will require you to provide full details of the accident and may send a surveyor to assess the damage to your vehicle.

Upon completion of its investigation, the insurance company would make an offer to settle the claim if it is a legitimate claim. If you accept, you would need to sign a claims discharge form indicating your acceptance.

Provide as soon as possible, all information at your disposal to the questions that are raised by the insurance company as this would facilitate the claims department in processing the claim.