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Met with a car accident? Here is what you should do!

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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 you should do, including a guide to the car insurance claim process .

What to do after a car crash

• Take care of the injured first: The very first thing to do is to stay calm and compose yourself. Assess the injury level of the people who were travelling in the car with you and other people who may have been involved in the accident. Your car was provided with a basic first aid kit. Provide first aid to all the injured people. Call up an ambulance immediately if someone is seriously injured or is non-responsive.

• Inform the police: Call up the police control room and let them know about the situation. Based on the guidance from police officers, an FIR may need to be filed. The police will visit the site and coordinate with other emergency services and also take care of crowd control.

• Inform the insurance company: Next, dial the customer care number of the insurance company or their roadside assistance number. You can find these numbers on the copy of the car insurance policy paper that you are required to carry with you. This is the very first step in the  car insurance claim process. The insurance company will inform you about the next steps.

Do not try to move the damaged vehicle unless the insurance company officers ask you to do so. If the damage is minor, they will tell you to take the car to the nearest workshop in the insurance company cashless network.

If the damage is major, the insurance company will send their Road Side Assistance (RSA) team and an authorised surveyor to take stock of the situation and damages. Remember to take a few photos of the accident site as well as a damaged vehicle for safe recordkeeping.

Try to keep the scene of the accident as it is. It is important that location surveys be done as promptly as possible to ensure near accurate record of the accident and reduce public problems because of clogged road. If you make any changes to the scene of the accident, the entire car insurance claim settlement may come at risk. The surveyors will inspect your car and take the statement about how the accident occurred.

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 should they 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 engine or transmission of the car is damaged or if it has suffered too much structural damage.

Conclusion

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!

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
S. Gopalakrishnan | Motor Insurance Expert | 40+ years of experience in insurance industry

A veteran in insurance industry. S. Gopalakrishnan is a name to reckon with in the field of reinsurance, he has headed the Reinsurance department and has rich experience in other fields of motor insurance. He loves to share his opinion on latest topics in the insurance industry and how he can help people in safeguarding their assets using insurance products.

Few other articles:

• Mistakes to Avoid when Buying Car Insurance Online

• Accidents and your car insurance premium – things to know

• Road Accidents and Need for Motor Insurance