What to do after an accident? Your guide for emergencies

Accident – What now? Your practical guide

An accident can happen to anyone – whether it's a minor fender bender or a serious collision, the situation is always stressful and requires clear decisions. But don't worry: With the right approach, you can keep a cool head and do everything necessary.

In this blog post, you'll find out what to do after an accident – from securing the accident site to reporting the damage to the insurance company. Whether it's recording the accident or what to do in the event of a hit-and-run: With this guide, you'll be prepared for all situations.

1. Securing the accident scene: Safety comes first

After an accident, the most important thing is to secure the scene of the accident to protect yourself, the other parties involved and the traffic. An unsecured accident scene can cause secondary accidents, especially in bad weather, darkness or heavy traffic.

How to properly secure the accident scene:

1. Switch on hazard warning lights: Activate the hazard warning lights immediately to warn other road users.
2. Put on a high-visibility vest: Put on a high-visibility vest before you get out of the car. This should be kept handy in the car.
3. Set up the warning triangle: Place the warning triangle at an appropriate distance:
   • In the city: At least 50 meters behind the accident site.
   • On the country road: About 100 meters away.
   • On the highway: About 200 meters away.

2. Providing first aid: Saving lives counts

If people are injured, it is important to act quickly and correctly. In Germany, you are legally obliged to provide first aid – don't worry, you can't go wrong if you make the effort.

First steps in the event of injuries:

• Secure the accident site first: Before you help, make sure that there is no longer any danger.
• Dial the emergency number (112): Transmit the following information:
  • Where did the accident happen?
  • What has happened?
  • How many people are injured?
  • What injuries are there?
  • Who reported the accident?
• Provide first aid: Use the first aid kit in your car. Keep the injured person warm and calm them down until professional help arrives.

Important: You can't do anything wrong if you help! Any attempt to administer first aid is better than doing nothing.

3. Call the police: When is it necessary?

Whether the police need to be called depends on the severity of the accident. This is often not necessary for minor fender benders without disputes but is essential in certain situations.

The police should be called if:

• People have been injured.
• There are disputes about the course of the accident.
• The other party has committed a hit-and-run.
• Other people's property (e.g. fences, signs) has been damaged.
• Foreign vehicles are involved.
• Company cars or rental cars are involved in the accident.

4. Document the accident: Preserve evidence

Thorough documentation is essential to avoid later disputes with the insurance company or the other party involved in the accident. Use your smartphone for this and ideally the European Accident Report, which you should keep in your glove compartment.

How to document the accident properly:

1. Take photos: Take photos of the accident scene, all damage and the position of the vehicles from several angles.
2. Note down data: Record the names, addresses and insurance details of the people involved.
3. License plates and vehicle data: Note the license plate numbers and vehicle makes and models of everyone involved.
4. Interview witnesses: If available, record the contact details of witnesses.
5. Describe the course of the accident: Write down how you think the accident happened.

5. Report the damage to the insurance company: What do you need to consider?

After an accident, you should report the damage to your insurance company as soon as possible. Many insurers set a deadline of 7 days for this.

Your insurance company needs this information:

• Place, date and time of the accident.
• Details of the other party involved in the accident (name, address, license plate number, insurance number).
• Photos of the damage.
• Accident report or police report (if available).

6. What to do in the event of a hit-and-run?

Hit and run is a criminal offense and is severely punished in Germany. Even in the case of minor damage – such as a scratch in the parking lot – you are not allowed to leave the scene of the accident without informing the injured party.

When is it a hit and run?

• If you leave the scene of the accident without personally contacting the parties involved and handing over your contact details.
• If the injured party cannot be contacted and you do not report the incident to the police.

Good to know 💡

A note on the windshield is not enough to fulfill your duty as the person responsible for the accident. The note could be blown away by the wind and the injured party would have no way of contacting you.

What should you do correctly?

• Wait a reasonable amount of time at the scene of the accident to inform the vehicle owner.
• If no one appears, call the police and leave your contact details there.

Important: Even minor damage such as small scratches can be considered a hit and run if you leave the scene of the accident without permission. This can be punished with fines, points in Flensburg or even a prison sentence – depending on the severity of the case.

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Conclusion: Act with calm and structure

An accident is a stressful moment, but with a clear approach you can handle the situation safely. Secure the accident site, provide first aid and document the accident – these are the most important steps.

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