The scene of a car accident is always filled with emotions of tension, anger, worry, and in the worst cases grief. The shock that one experiences as a result of an accident can incapacitate once ability to think logically about the steps one need to take to gather all the information needed to settle an insurance claim, or to gather enough evidence to use in a court of law. Accident insurance is ones safety net, should one incur damages to oneself, the car, of a third party. But most times the other person involved in the accident may not have accident insurance, which means that they have to pay the damages themselves if they were at fault. This settling of this situation many times takes place in court, and if there is not enough evidence you might not receive all the money due to you.

Accident insurance is not an obligation by South Africa law, so when an accident does occur it usually means that the financial implications can run into thousands upon thousands. Taking out accident insurance ensures that for a minimal amount of money every month, you can have peace of mind knowing that the financial implications won’t be that great. The purpose of this article however is, to inform you of what you need to do in the event of an accident so that you won’t have any problems when it comes to claim, or when in court. Get prepared in case of an accident so that you are not caught sleeping behind the wheel.

First things first, this may seem so simple yet many people do not have it on hand at the scene of an accident- a note pad and a working pen! Do you know how many times people who cause an accident avoid been caught is by speeding off, without the other person having time to take down their details? It is important that you have a pen and paper in a place which is easy to reach such as the cubby hole, so that you can take down the persons details such as; name, surname, address, phone number, email address and most importantly car registration number. If there is an eye witness, then you need to jot down their information as well, because you might need them to testify on your behalf.

If you have a digital handy or even the camera on your mobile phone, use it! Take pictures of the damage on both cars, as well as the track marks on the street and if any other objects have been damaged such as; walls, street lamps or telephone poles. This will come in handy if there are any discrepancies as to how the accident happened or what was damaged. This way the insurance companies cannot deny responsibility.

I would suggest that you keep you note pad, pen and even your insurance papers in a sleeve or bag, so that you have everything in one place and so you do not have to be looking for high and low for these things.

Accident insurance is that security blanket you need should an accident happen, but it is also important to do your part and gather enough information you can so that you can settle your claim easily, or so that you can get your money back from the other party. In moments when it is unlikely that you will be able to think fast, it is better to be prepared.

For more information on accident insurance, go to http://www.youinsure.co.za