Road accidents happen all the time, even to the most careful drivers among us. It is for this reason that its important to know what to do when you get involved in one, regardless of whether the accident was a major one or a minor fender bender.
- Stop: When you find yourself in an accident, you should stop and turn off your engine. If you feel unsafe, e.g. you get surrounded by rowdy bodaboda riders, drive straight to the nearest police station and make a report.
- Check yourself and your passengers: Check to see if you and your passengers are okay. If one of you is hurt, administer first aid to stop the bleeding and support their head, then call an ambulance. Ask bystanders for help, but if your passenger is severely hurt, do not move them unless there is danger in leaving them in the car.
- Safely protect the scene: Switch on your hazard lights. Put safety triangles 150m from the accident to warn other motorists. If the accident is minor, you can park on the side of the road to minimise traffic disruptions. You can also ignite flares at night as a more visible warning.
- Call the police and emergency services like ambulance and fire fighters: Call the police (999, 112, 911) and inform them of the accident. It is a legal requirement. If anyone is hurt, also call the ambulance or fire fighters like the Kenya Red Cross (1199).
- Provide first aid: Check on the other car and provide first aid if anyone is hurt to stop bleeding as you wait for the relevant authorities to arrive. Do the same for any hurt pedestrians. Do not move anyone unless its imperative to. Check to see if they are responsive by calling out and engaging them.
- Take photos and videos of the scene: Take adequate pictures of the accident scene and damages to your car. Also take photos of the insurance sticker of the the other car(s) involved.
- Document the accident and get details of all parties involved: Make notes of what happened and get contact information of all the parties involved, including passengers and witnesses. Take note of the conditions of both cars and their damages. Also:
- Get the names and badge numbers of the responding police officers.
- Include information such as weather conditions, road markings and behaviour of the other driver in your notes.
- Request for a copy of the police accident report and ensure you get it as soon as its ready.
- Reach out to your insurance provider: Report the accident to your insurance provider. They will advise you on what to do and filling of the claim form. Here is how to successfully lodge an insurance claim.
- Remove your car from the scene as directed by the police: After the police have taken all the necessary information, they will direct you to remove your car from the scene. You can drive it or call a tow truck.
What to take note:
- Do not flee an accident scene. Only do so if its unsafe for you to remain there like when there is an unruly crowd, and drive directly to the nearest police station.
- Do not get emotional with the other driver. Do not get into a fight or shouting match with them. Be calm.
- No matter how minor the accident is, report it to the police, your insurance and document it. You might have worked it out with the other driver and agreed on damages but they can turn around, report the accident, exaggerate it and blame everything on you.
- Make a point of seeing a doctor afterwards even if you do not have any physical injuries so they can rule out internal injuries. This is especially so if you start experiencing headaches, vomiting, pain and nausea.
