First Accident. Advice needed !!!

[Pho3nix]

Hi guys,

Got into my first accident yesterday and I really don't know what the first steps to take are. I have all the details of the other driver, pictures of the cars and the witnesses number. I had to leave in a dash after swapping information as my father had to be taken to the hospital but now I'm not sure where to start.. Police station?

How it happend : I was at HeartFelt arena parking, I went into a parking space and was going to reverse into the one behind me so that I could get some shade. Looked both ways,twice and started to reverse, next thing I know this lady in a white citi golf is right behind me (I'm already in the middle of the road) and it happened. Her left fender and some of her door was damaged. She seemed really helpful but she seemed to want to put the blame on me but the witness refuted this by saying she should have seen me. My car isn't too bad, back bumper is scratched and rear light is damaged but nothing else.

Any advice..don't have insurance.

 

[Kosmik]

Hi guys,

Got into my first accident yesterday and I really don't know what the first steps to take are. I have all the details of the other driver, pictures of the cars and the witnesses number. I had to leave in a dash after swapping information as my father had to be taken to the hospital but now I'm not sure where to start.. Police station?

How it happend : I was at HeartFelt arena parking, I went into a parking space and was going to reverse into the one behind me so that I could get some shade. Looked both ways,twice and started to reverse, next thing I know this lady in a white citi golf is right behind me (I'm already in the middle of the road) and it happened. Her left fender and some of her door was damaged. She seemed really helpful but she seemed to want to put the blame on me but the witness refuted this by saying she should have seen me. My car isn't too bad, back bumper is scratched and rear light is damaged but nothing else.

Any advice..don't have insurance.

1. File a AR report at the police station.
2. Ask witnesess if they could please sign affadavits of their statements.
3. Await a letter from her insurer.
4. Submit to the insurer the witness statements and AR report number.

Most likely this would be a case of split liability although normally when a car is impacted from the rear, it is the fault of the other driver. How it goes down depends on how much the insurer wants to haggle.

I know it doesn't help you now but next time consider at least just 3rd party insurance for your vehicle. It doesn't cost much at all ( far less than a tank of fuel ) and this type of issue would be no problem and you can just stress about fixing you own vehicle or not.

 

[froot]

What Kosmik said.

The law states you have to report the accident to the police station under which that area falls (they will send you away until you go to the right station) within 24h.

Yeah secondly, get signed witness statements, include that with your report to the police, get a reference number and then phone your insurance company.

Correct, an accident where someone hit the rear of your vehicle is their fault unless witnesses claim otherwise.
If I understand correctly, you basically reversed into the other car? If you were completely inside the parking slot it would be debatable, but since you say you were already a hefty way into that reverse action in the road the other car is at fault by moving into the way of a moving vehicle. Just make sure the witness statements mention this.

 

[jacksonc]

1. An accident has to be reported within 24hs at the nearest police station
2. It most likely will be split liability and you have to hope she has insurance, if she doesnt , just focus on doin your car on your own because the process of claiming from her if she is not willing is just not worth it
3. Get 3rd party insurance - at least

and if ever it was a crash you should never even have bothered to use the towing people that come, I wasnt insured and my car was taken and thats the last I saw of it, when i came back from hospital after a week they wanted an arm and a leg

 

[SoWhat]

I mostly agree with the previous posters. However,if you reversed/drove into some other vehicle/object, keep 10000rand ready Another point is - never ever leave an accident scene in a hurry! Even more so if you might be the guilty party AND you have no insurance! A parking-lot fender bender can quickly turn into a nightmare money wise. My advise: try to sort it out without involving layers! If the lady is insured and she is prepared to claim from her insurance, offer to pay her access. Sometimes that works and is the cheapest way to sort out the mess.

 

[froot]

I mostly agree with the previous posters. However,if you reversed/drove into some other vehicle/object, keep 10000rand ready Another point is - never ever leave an accident scene in a hurry! Even more so if you might be the guilty party AND you have no insurance! A parking-lot fender bender can quickly turn into a nightmare money wise. My advise: try to sort it out without involving layers! If the lady is insured and she is prepared to claim from her insurance, offer to pay her access. Sometimes that works and is the cheapest way to sort out the mess.

Quite true on the reverse/parking lot accident scene. This is (hopefully) where witnesses come in.