What to do after a Car Accident in India: 10 Steps To Follow

Posted on: Feb 25, 2021 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

What to do after a Car Accident in India: 10 Steps To Follow

Did you know that every minute in India, there is a road accident? Poor road infrastructure and careless road manners can result in a car accident anywhere and anytime. Remember that no matter how careful you may be while driving, a car accident is an ever-present risk. Proper knowledge of what to do after a car crash can help you a lot when you are involved in an accident. Here is what to do after a car accident, including a guide to the car insurance claim process.

10 Things You Should Do After a Car Accident

Car accidents happen in the blink of an eye. Therefore, it is advisable that you take extra precautions to avoid it. Some of the key things you must do after a car accident are as follows:

1. Stop The Car

As per the legal requirement, you must immediately stop the car after being involved in the accident. Never run away from the accident spot even if it was a minor one legal proceedings will be taken against you. Do not get into any irrational argument with the other driver.

2. Assess the Situation

Take some time to calm down and assess the situation before you take any further steps. The first 3-4 seconds will lead you to take some time to assess what has happened. Take a deep breath and focus on the surroundings. Make sure to check for any injuries for yourself and others. It is advisable that you understand how serious the injury is.

3. Move to Safety

Move to a safe place as soon as possible. If your car is in good condition and you're not severely injured, you should park it on one side of the road. This helps to avoid traffic jams or further collisions. It is advisable to maintain safety after the injury as well. However, do not tamper with any evidence as the police might need to investigate the scene.

4. Get Medical Help

You should get medical help as soon as possible. The car comes with a basic first-aid kit that is useful for minor injuries. You may start using it. However, if anyone is severely injured, you should call an ambulance quickly. Seeking medical advice immediately is crucial.

5. Inform the Insurance Company

You must inform your car insurance company from whom you purchased the policy. If the third party was severely injured, you should get in touch with the third party car insurance company. It is advisable that you inform the company as soon as possible. You must provide a detailed explanation of all injuries, personal and third party. However, do not provide any false information as it can lead to claims being rejected.

6. File the Police FIR

Your next step should be to file a police FIR. This is done to ensure that there are no further legal complications. Moreover, filing a police FIR is crucial for a third-party car insurance claim settlement process. You must also keep a copy of the FIR, which may be required for the insurance claim process.

7. Take Photos

The car insurance company will require you to submit photos of the car's damages. Therefore, make sure that you click pictures of damages sustained by the car. It is advisable to click clear pictures from all angles. The damages must be visible. This ensures that the claim will be settled easily.

8. Submit Documents

After reporting the accident, you must submit the documents. The documents that you'll have to submit include:

◦ Copy of FIR

◦ Copy of car insurance papers

◦ Copy of driving license

◦ Copy of car registration certificate

It is advisable to keep all these documents handy to avoid any problems.

9. Repair the Car

You must reach out to the car insurance company, which will provide information about the estimations for the repair. It is advisable to connect with an authorised network garage of insurance companies. They will take care of the repairs, and payment will be made by the insurance company.

10. Car Insurance Claim Settlement

As soon as repairs are done, the car insurance company will provide the insurance claim settlement. If you have got the repairs done from any non-network garage, the insurance company will reimburse the amount. However, it is advisable that you keep bills of all the repairs to ensure a smooth reimbursement process.

Repair and claim process for car insurance

Once the authorised surveyors have surveyed the car, they will direct you to a repair workshop. If you are sent to a network repair workshop, the actual claim process is very simple. The insurance company will tell you how much they will cover.

You can approve the assessment and ask the repair to proceed. Once done, the repair workshop will give you the bill and ask you to pay your share, including any deductibles and overheads. You can take delivery of your car after that. The workshop will coordinate with your insurance company for the remaining amount.

If you are sent to a non-network car repair shop, you will have to clear their bills in full and then submit the bills, claim form and any other document that is needed by the insurance company. The company will make the claim amount payment to your bank account or mail you a cheque.

How much should you settle for after a car accident?

Many people get confused about how much they should settle the claim for or pay for the car repairs out of pocket. The decision is very simple, if the damage is less. If you are involved in a minor accident or a fender bender, it is always preferable not to make a claim. This is because the compulsory deductible, voluntary deductibles, processing fees and file charges of car accident policy may be so high that you are better off paying from the pocket.

Then there are the factors like you can always negotiate a better deal from the repair garage when you are paying in cash because it saves them the claim process hassle and waiting for the claim settlement period as well. However, if the damage to your car is really high, then you should take advantage of your insurance. For example, in case the major parts like the engine or transmission of the car is damaged or if it has suffered too much structural damage.

Conclusion

You must understand what to do after a car accident and not panic. Always remember that in any accident, it is important to take care of the injured people first. All other things come secondary to saving the life and limb of the people involved. More importantly, your car accident policy is only valid if you have opted for comprehensive car insurance. As own damage is not covered in the basic third party car insurance. So, when buying or renewing your car insurance ,choose a comprehensive policy with the right add-ons to stay covered in case you crash!

FAQs

1. What is the best way to recover from an accident?

After an accident, usually 48 hours of bed rest is recommended. It is advisable to practise daily exercises and reintegrate daily exercises. Simple exercises and stretches can be useful.

2. What is the procedure for a car accident?

You must inform the car insurance company as soon as possible. You can either inform them via email or using a toll-free number.

3. Is an FIR mandatory for Insurance claims?

Yes, in case of accidents, FIR is mandatory for filing insurance claims. If you have files, the claim may not be processed smoothly.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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