Hearing your teen has been in an accident is no news any parent wants to hear
Car accidents are stressful no matter who is involved, but when it’s your child, it can take the stress to another level. There is always an uncertainty.
We have put together a what-to-do list if you are ever in this situation
What to do immediately after the accident
There are quite a few things that need to be done after an accident and it’s much easier to do them with a clear mind. Anxiety and panic might make your child want to bolt from the scene, but that will only cause more problems in the long run.
Firstly,
Find out if they or anyone else is hurt and where your teen is. Advise them to check for landmarks so it’s easier to get to them or even get the ambulance or breakdown service to them.
Be visible to passing drivers & move out of the way
Hazard lights should always be put on if possible. Then, if the car is drivable and your teen isn’t injured, they should try to move the car out of the way of oncoming traffic to the side of the road or highway, so that they are out of harm’s way. If they are hurt, encourage them to stay as still as possible until help comes, and to keep their seatbelt on at all times.
Call the police
If someone has been injured or killed in the accident, the police must be called to come to the scene. It’s also important to call the police if anyone is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Take photos
If your child isn’t injured, and they are able to, tell them to take photos of the scene of the accident, the damage to both (or more) cars, car licences, licence plates, the licence of the driver(s) involved, as well as the police report (if police are requested to be on the scene, otherwise you do this when you report the accident at the police station).
Exchange details
Encourage them not to get caught up in a discussion with the other driver/s about who is responsible for the accident. Rather tell them to focus on swapping contact details, as well as insurance information.
If there were any witnesses, tell your child to get their statements (an audio recording on their cell might be easier) as well as their contact details.
Arrange a tow truck if your car isn’t driveable
If you have insurance, call your insurance company’s emergency assistance line to order a tow truck to tow the car. It’s likely that other tow companies have already arrived on the scene, but don’t let them move your car until you have spoken to your insurance company. If you don’t have insurance you can look up a tow truck on Google. But keep in mind that it can get expensive to tow your car.
What to do now that the dust is settled and everyone is safe
Report the accident to the police within 24 hoursFiling a police report needs to be done within 24 hours of the accident and should be done at the police station nearest to where the accident happened.
TIP: Always try to snap a photo of the police report if you can’t get a copy of it.
Contact your insurer
You should report the accident to your insurer as soon as possible. If the insurance is in your name and you are specified as the regular driver of the car, contact your insurer yourself and describe the accident in detail. If your child has their own car insurance, they will need to contact their insurer themselves.
What you can do beforehand
Know what your car insurance covers
Cover differs by insurer – some insurers only provide coverage for named drivers (ie. they will only provide cover if you have explicitly added your child onto your policy), some apply additional limits in the case of young drivers (like an additional excess if your child is below the age of 25 or if they have had their licence for less than two years), and some will simply provide the same level of cover and excess as if you yourself were driving.