10 Steps to Follow After a Car Accident In India

Get Car Insurance starting at only ₹2,094/year #
Processing

None of us would ever want a mishap to happen with us or our car while driving on the roads of India. However, with increasing traffic and traffic rules violations, incidents like road accidents have increased in number. Are you worried about what should be done when your car suffers from an unfortunate accident? Read below to know about things that you should do after a car accident in India.

Read more

  • Renew policy In 2 minutes*

  • 20+ Insurers to choose

  • 51 Lakh+ Vehicles Insured

#TP price for less than 1000 CC cars. All savings are provided by insurers as per IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C apply.

Get Car Insurance starting at only ₹2,094/year #
Looking for Car Insurance?
Select your city or RTO
Search city or RTO
Can’t find your RTO? Search for it
Search Car Brand
    Search model for Maruti Suzuki
      Search for variant
        View all variants
          Please fill your details
          Your full name
          Email address
          Mobile number
          View Prices
          Please wait..
          By clicking on “View Prices”, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
          Select Make
          Select Model
          Fuel Type
          Select variant
          Registration year
          Registration month
          Save & update
          Please wait..

          10 Things You Should Do After a Car Accident in India

          According to a report by World Bank, "There are 53 road accidents every hour and 1 death every four minutes in India". Car accidents are quite common due to the poor condition of roads and transport infrastructure in the country. These stats also highlight the importance of having a car insurance policy for your car.

          Moreover, it also becomes imperative for us to have proper knowledge of the things to do after a car accident. 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 doing so 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 your body as well and seek medical advice if necessary.

          4. Intimate Your Insurance Company

          After you have taken care of the injured, it's time to intimate your insurance company about the accident. Immediately call the insurance company whose car insurance policy you have purchased and inform them about the accident so that a claim can be registered at the earliest. Give them detailed information about the own 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.

          You May Also Read: Car Insurance Claim Process

          5. File a Police FIR

          To avoid any legal complications, inform the police about the car accident as soon as possible. You will be also 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 Police FIR that you can submit 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 the valid driving license
          • A copy of the Police FIR
          • Copy of car registration certificate (RC)
          • Copy of car insurance papers
          • Repair estimates

          Make sure to keep all these documents handy and submit them when required for a faster car insurance claim settlement.

          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 authorized 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-authorized garage and raise a reimbursement claim with your insurer.

          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 have got your car repaired in a non-network garage, the insurance company will reimburse you the entire 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 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 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 papers, driving license, registration certificate, etc. with you whenever you are driving on the road.

          Wrapping Up!

          Car accidents can be distressing but if you know how to deal with them, you can save yourself from heavy repair expenditure. But that’s only possible if you insure your vehicle with a car insurance policy. Although purchasing at least a third party car insurance policy is mandatory, you can opt for a comprehensive policy to cover your car as well as third party liabilities in case of a car accident. If you are looking for an affordable motor insurance policy, you can compare different plans and buy it from insurance broker websites like Policybazaar.com. 

          Find similar car insurance quotes by body type

          Hatchback Sedan SUV MUV
          Search
          Disclaimer: Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by an insurer.
           Why buy from policybazaar

          Car insurance articles

          Recent Articles
          Popular Articles
          How Long Can You Wait to File a Car Insurance Claim?

          22 Mar 2023

          When an unanticipated road accident occurs, filing a car insurance
          Read more
          How to Transfer Car Ownership Online?

          20 Mar 2023

          A car's ownership is usually transferred if the car is sold to a
          Read more
          About Hybrid Cars -Types, Advantages, Hybrid vs Electric Car

          16 Mar 2023

          Due to their diverse benefits such as lower fuel economy and low
          Read more
          Vehicle Scrappage Policy in India: All You Need to Know

          15 Mar 2023

          With an aim to phase out unfit and polluting vehicles, the
          Read more
          Planning To Cancel Car Insurance? – Here’s What To Know

          28 Feb 2023

          Though rare, car insurance cancellations are pretty much evident
          Read more
          Check Car Insurance Status Online on Parivahan Sewa/ RTO?
          It doesn’t matter if you are an excellent driver or take your car out only once in a few months, your car must be
          Read more
          Getting Your Duplicate Car Insurance Policy is Easy-Here’s How!
          Losing your car insurance documents can be daunting. In such a state of affairs, the first thing that comes to your
          Read more
          How to Find Car Insurance Details by Registration Number?
          As a car owner, it is mandatory to have a car insurance policy under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Sometimes, you
          Read more
          Multiple Ways To Check Your Car Insurance Status Online
          With everything going digital, checking vehicle insurance status online has become easier than ever. It not only
          Read more
          Transferring Car Insurance from One Person to Another
          An integral part of selling a car, for both the buyer and the seller, is ensuring a successful car insurance
          Read more

          top
          View Plans
          Close
          Download the Policybazaar app
          to manage all your insurance needs.
          INSTALL