10 Steps to Follow After a Car Accident In India

According to MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways), around 1.78 lakh lives are lost every year in India due to road accidents. Emergencies can happen unannounced, and it is very important to know what to do after a car accident in India to avoid panic and hassle. Read on to know the detailed process regarding the same.Read more

What to do after a Car Accident in India?

The increasing number of car accidents in India has led to an imperative need of a car insurance policy. However, having an insurance policy does not solve everything. It is important to know what you must do after an accident. To help you with this, here is a list of 10 steps that you can follow after a car accident in India:

1. Stop the Car

   When you are involved in a car accident, you must first stop at the scene as this is a legal obligation to follow. Even if the accident is a minor one, do not run away from the accident spot, as it may lead to legal proceedings against you. Moreover, try to remain as calm as possible and avoid any irrational argument with the other driver.

2. Look Out for Any Injury

   The next thing that you need to do is to check whether anyone is seriously injured in the accident. Make sure to first examine yourself for any injury and look out for others. Assess the level of injury of the people who were involved in the accident. Also, assess whether any third party has sustained an injury so that you can claim the payable compensation amount under third party car insurance.

3. Get Medical Help

   In case of minor injuries, you can provide first aid to the injured as soon as possible. Your car comes with a basic first aid kit that you can use for minor injuries. If anyone is seriously injured or non-responsive, call up an ambulance immediately. Make sure to look after yourself as well and seek medical advice if necessary.

4. Intimate Your Insurance Company

   After you have taken care of the injured, inform your car insurance company about the accident to file a claim. Give them detailed information about the damages sustained by your car, as well as third-party damages, if any. Make sure to give every single piece of information honestly, as giving any wrong information may lead to claim rejection.

5. File a Police FIR

   To avoid any legal complications, inform the police about the car accident as soon as possible, if required in case of a major accident, injury, or death. You will also be required to file a First Information Report (FIR) in case of a third-party car insurance claim settlement process. Also, make sure to keep a copy of the FIR to submit it to the insurance company during the car insurance claim process.

6. Take Pictures

   Take photos of the damages caused at the place of the accident for the insurance company to get a clearer picture. Click pictures of the damages sustained by the insured car, third-party property damages as well as the accident spot. Make sure that the photos are clear and have been taken from all angles so that the damages are clearly visible in the pictures. Doing so ensures that the claim is settled without much hassle.

7. Submit Documents

   Once you have reported the incident, you will be required to submit a few documents to file a claim under your car accident policy. The documents that are required in case of a car accident are:

   • A copy of a valid driving license
   • A copy of the Police FIR
   • Copy of car registration certificate (RC)
   • Copy of car insurance papers
   • Repair estimates

8. Get Your Car Repaired

   Before proceeding with the actual repairs, the insurance company may send a surveyor who will estimate the extent of repairs required by the insured car. After this, you can get your car repaired in the authorised network garage of the insurance company. The towing facility for the damaged car will be provided by the insurance company itself. You can also get your car repaired at a non-authorised garage and raise a reimbursement claim with your insurer. You must wait for the surveyor's inspection before getting your vehicle repaired at any of the garages unless it is an emergency.

9. Car Insurance Claim Settlement

   Once the repairs of your car are complete, your insurance company will settle the insurance claim with the network garage in case of a cashless claim settlement process. If you get your car repaired in a non-network garage, the insurance company will reimburse you the approved claim amount after the repairs are done. However, make sure to keep all the repair bills and payment receipts with you for an easy claim reimbursement process.

10. Be Prepared for Any Adversity on the Road

    A road accident can come unannounced, and therefore, it is always better to be prepared for any adversity while driving. Make sure to follow all the traffic rules properly, adhere to the speed limit, and do not drink & drive, as most road accidents happen due to these reasons only. Moreover, keep copies of all the necessary documents like your motor insurance policy, driving license, registration certificate, etc. with you whenever you are driving on the road.

Wrapping Up!

Car accidents are distressing, but if you know how to deal with them, you can save yourself from heavy repair expenditures. But that's only possible if you insure your vehicle with a four-wheeler insurance policy. Although purchasing at least a third-party policy is mandatory, you can opt for a comprehensive car insurance plan to cover damages to your own car as well as third-party liabilities in case of a car accident. If you are looking for affordable car insurance, you can compare different plans and buy it online from Policybazaar.com in just a few minutes.