No one is insured from getting into a road traffic accident. The cause of an unpleasant situation can be bad weather, a bumpy road, or human inattention. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare carefully and know what to do in case of a road traffic accident.
What to do in case of a road accident
The concept of a road traffic accident implies that the incident occurred involving a vehicle during movement. Statistics count the number of incidents in Ukraine daily, and the numbers reach hundreds of cases per day. Circumstances can be diverse, and knowledge of the Rules of the Road does not guarantee safety. Categories of incidents are classified as:
- Collisions of two or more vehicles
- Overturning as a result of impact or collision with an obstacle
- Collision with parked vehicles
- Collision with road elements, other structures, and trees
- Collision with pedestrians, cyclists, or animals
- Passengers falling out of the cabin
- Other situations
A clear plan of action in case of a road traffic accident is outlined in the Traffic Rules of Ukraine. However, a collision can make those involved forget the instructions completely, and they spend hours in confusion at the scene. To avoid this, the first thing to do is to control yourself and stop panicking, and move on to rational actions. A sober and thoughtful assessment of the unpleasant situation will help find a way out of it.
Documenting the incident
When the collision has already occurred and the smoke has cleared, it is necessary to assess the extent of the damage to all the people involved in the events. If the accident posed a risk of fire or explosion, then you should immediately ensure your safety and that of other road users, and also call an ambulance. In all other cases, the order of actions in case of a road traffic accident is as follows:
- Stop the car, turn off the engine, and preserve all traces
- Turn on the hazard lights, mark the location with emergency stop signs (reflective triangles)
- Call the police at the number "102" and do not touch or move anything until the patrol arrives
It is categorically forbidden to leave the scene of the incident - this is a clear admission of guilt, even if everything happened the other way around, and you turned out to be the injured party. It is important to remember what to do in case of a road traffic accident first and foremost. Since a road traffic accident is considered a crime according to the legislation, punishment is provided for its commission in the administrative or criminal code. Who will be responsible for this will be determined only by the court, so when documenting the situation by the police, one should behave neutrally, not blame others, and not take responsibility upon oneself. Because in a collision of two cars, a third party may be at fault.
During the work of the police, it is not worth going anywhere - after the documentation, they are obliged to give a protocol for signature, hand over an act of fixing the damage, and a certificate of a road traffic accident. These documents will be useful in the future.
Disputable moments in case of a road traffic accident what to do
Obvious excesses, when it is clear who is right and who is guilty in the accident, do not happen often. Usually, each party has its own opinion and seeks to prove its innocence. There are several guidelines on what to do for the victim in case of a road traffic accident:
- Keep a close eye on the second driver so that they do not flee or do not let another person drive
- Find witnesses, and even better surveillance cameras in stores, on dashcams, and so on
- Do not let the second party influence the witnesses
- Preserve or document the location of all evidence of the accident and do not let the evidence be tampered with
These are universal procedures that determine what to do if you are not at fault in a road traffic accident in Ukraine. Even the police inspector who records the event in the protocol must show impartiality, simply record the drivers' explanations and the testimony of the witnesses. The guilty party is determined at this stage only based on assumptions. It is in the common interest to expedite the process as much as possible. This is necessary to clear the roadway. A useful step in what to do in case of a car accident will be to quickly provide witness statements.
Therefore, in this matter, tactfulness should be shown and the floor should be given to the observers. Information from witnesses will be the basis in the judicial process, as the participants are interested parties.
What to do after a road traffic accident
After a law enforcement officer has documented the event in the protocol, interviewed all parties, and the damaged vehicles have been removed from the roadway, you can move on to the next stage. These are actions after a road traffic accident with insurance. Every car owner must insure their vehicle; otherwise, they do not have the right to drive it out of the garage. The OSAGO insurance policy is designed to compensate for the costs of car repairs and, if necessary, treatment of those injured in the hospital.
The order of payments is determined by each insurance company separately. To receive compensation immediately after an accident (usually within three days), it is better to go to the company's office with the following documents in their original form:
- Personal insurance policy
- Police report on the incident
- Technical passport for the damaged car
- Driver's license
Often, a representative of the insurer will need to be called to the scene. It is better not to delay with a call to the company. These are the basic rules governing what to do in case of a road accident to receive payments.
Having insurance allows you not to call the police. Here, the actions of the victim after a road traffic accident and the second party must be coordinated. If the event did not cause significant damage to the vehicles, there are no more than two participants, and they are not under the influence, and the health of the drivers and passengers is not threatened, then an accident report can be drawn up, exchange data with insurers, and part ways peacefully.
What to do in case of a road traffic accident if there is no insurance
For various reasons, the second party to the incident may not have an insurance policy. If such a driver is found to be at fault in the accident, then maximum concentration and persistence should be shown. It is necessary to prove to the police officers your correctness and provide evidence of your words. If the second party is recorded in the protocol as the guilty party, then with a high probability, the court will agree with this. Therefore, do not deviate from your position. These are important steps on what to do in case of a road traffic accident if the at-fault party is uninsured.
The only way to recover expenses is to recover a specific amount from the violator through the court. The exact amount will be determined by the MTIBU (Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine), so do not hesitate to find their contacts and send them the case materials. If there are doubtful moments, you can call a lawyer for help. Such actions of the victim after a road traffic accident will guarantee a fair court decision.
However, it may happen that your inattention caused the collision. In this case, the first thing to do is to call a lawyer. They may not rectify the situation, but they can significantly mitigate the punishment.
Sanctions
The state rules of the road regulate all processes on the road and on the sidelines. Unconditional compliance with these norms ideally guarantees safety and the absence of road traffic accidents. In 99 cases out of 100, the Traffic Rules were violated by one of the participants. And for a violation, punishment is provided in the form of:
- Fine
- Community service
- Restriction of freedom
- Deprivation of liberty
The parties to the conflict are determined exclusively through the judicial process. Therefore, there are recommendations on what not to do in case of a road traffic accident:
- Leave the scene of the incident on foot or by car
- Destroy evidence
- Pressure witnesses and other participants
- Resist the police
- Offer bribes to law enforcement agencies
Remember that anyone can find themselves in an emergency situation. Black ice, fog, sudden obstacles, a breakdown of a car on the way, and other factors can cause a driver's maneuver to fail. Always remain human and adhere to the rules of honor and the moral code. The first thing to do in case of a car accident is to keep a calm mind and a neutral position. After all, drivers are a friendly community.
