标题: What To Do When You Had a Car Accident [打印本页] 作者: vincentxiao 时间: 2012-6-2 12:25 标题: What To Do When You Had a Car Accident Stop in a safe place
If it's a severe or 'bad' accident and persons are seriously injured then leave the cars as they are. If it's minor – in the sense that no one is injured and the cars are still drivable then move off to the side of the road before doing anything else. Traffic congestion will only slow the response time for emergency services and tow trucks.
Keep yourself in a place of safety such as behind a barrier or on a footpath, unless you are rendering first aid to someone. Call an Ambulance for anyone who is injured
The Ambulance operator will ask you specific questions re the age of the patient, if they are conscious and breathing, if they are bleeding/where from, if they were thrown from the vehicle etc.
The Ambulance operator is going to ask you to render first aid if it's necessary. They'll talk you through it. Don't panic – dealing with a panicking person over the phone is very frustrating and its difficult to get them to follow instructions correctly. Remember – you aren't obliged to actually give a person first aid if you're asked to over the phone – but how would you feel knowing that you could have helped save a life. Would you want someone to refuse you first aid? Phone the Fire Service if anyone is trapped, OR if any chemicals are leaking from the vehicles involved. Obviously you'll also need to do this if a car is on fire or smoking. MAKE SURE YOU STOP THE ENGINE. Also, don't smoke around the vehicles (Common sense prevails here). The Fire Service usually carry some absorbent so they can clean up and contain small spills. Even if you think a leak may be minor, it needs to be cleaned up before it enters a drain, and so the road isn't left with a slippery coating on it.
Definition of chemicals; diesel/ petrol/ LPG, radiator fluid, power steering fluid, oil, brake fluid, battery acid Phone the Police if the persons involved are suspected to be affected by drugs or liquor, or if the accident involves property other then the vehicles, or if there are any injuries, or if the position of the vehicles poses a serious traffic hazard.
At this time, the Police do not care about who was at fault, so if you have to call the Police don't go off ranting about how the other driver cut you off/ ran a red light etc
***If its a minor accident it can be reported at a Police station later in the day. Swap your details
If you aren't rendering first aid and everyone is out of the cars – this is the time to be swapping your details. It's a good time to be doing this now if you're waiting for the Police.
You need to provide and obtain the following information to all other persons involved:
Name
Telephone Number
Address
Registration Number
Make, model and colour of the Motor Vehicles involved
License Number
Insurance Company
Photos are an excellent idea as insurance companies will often want to see any photos you have. DO NOT admit liability or blame yourself. It's up to insurance companies to ascertain who is at fault. Organise a tow truck
If the towies haven't turned up by now, and your car needs towing – you'll need to organise one yourself. In many areas, tow truck drivers will scan local emergency services and turn up before anyone else.
Make sure you read any paperwork and ask any applicable questions before agreeing that they tow your car. Call your insurance company if required and see if they have a preferred towing company.
Remember that some towing companies will only tow a certain distance before charging extra per kilometre. Also remember there are costs involved with your vehicle being stored in a towing holding yard. It's not cheap!
In parts of Victoria accident towing is managed by the government run Towing Allocation service. This means that a local Tow Truck will be allocated to your accident when you/the Police/someone calls Towing Allocation on 131176. You cant choose a specific company either and it is illegal for a tow truck to pickup from an accident in an allocated area unless they have been allocated to it. After all that
If the Police were called, wait for them to arrive and talk to them about what happened. Remember, you can always go to a Police station if you're only after advice.
If you're being taken to hospital by Ambulance, then make sure you tell someone else involved that you're going – also tell them which hospital you're going to – so that the info can be passed to Police. (Police will find out anyway but its one less step for them)
If you're still waiting on the side of the road, call family/ friend/ cab to come and pick you up. Phone Numbers
Emergency: 000
Local Police in most states: 131 444
Main Roads – WA: 138 138
Main Roads – QLD: 131 940
RTA – NSW: 132 701
VICRoads – VIC: 131170
SA Roads – SA: 131 084
SUNCORP: 13 11 55
RACQ: 131 905
RACV: 137 228
RAC: 131 111
NRMA: 131 122
Allianz: 131 000
Youi: 1300 009 684
AAMI: 132 244
Just Cars: 131 326
GIO: 131 010
Bingle: 1300 246 453
Budget Direct: 1300 139 591 General Suggestions
Keep in your car;
a small notebook and a couple of pens
a small LED torch
a reflective vest and a first aid kit – keep them in the boot with your spare wheel. Might help save a life (or your own) one day