Minor Accidents in City Traffic? What Needs To Do?

Did someone hit your car and you don't know what to do next?

People who drives in city traffic have more chance to face minor accidents, scratches, damages to your car bumper due to someone's mistake or rash driving. Most of us don't know how to handle this situation. We may leave them free or ends up paying them some money. There are few things that you should do without panic if you are in such a situation. Lets discuss them, 

Before going to any of these, please make sure the mistake is not yours. 

DO NOT PANIC, DO NOT OVER REACT and DO NOT LEAVE IT TOO!!

1. If someone hits your car due to his/her careless drive, (mostly this happens from rear side), DO NOT PANIC. Turn on the parking light immediately, get down from the car and click some pictures of that as soon as possible. Take the picture of the car/bike who created the accident along with their number plate details. 

2. Talk to the other driver without panic or not in an offensive way, that will create the scene more worst. Talk to him and see what is his/her response. Always remember if you are hit from behind by another car, you will get the upper hand (even in traffic law and rules) unless it was a dangerous breaking or a lane cutting by the vehicle. 

3. Abusive beginning will end up in loss for both parties. Remember we pay insurance for us and also for others if we damage their property using our vehicle. If the mistake is yours, accept it and be ready to initiate 3rd party insurance of your car and claim it for the other person whose vehicle is damaged by you. 

4. Similarly, if the other person is accepting his/her mistake, talk politely and what is his plan. Either it can be an immediate settlement as cash or you can ask them to claim their 3rd party insurance for you. Always keep in mind that 3rd party insurance is mandatory for all vehicles. However, the claim can be initiated by the insured person (unfortunately this is bad about Motor Insurance policies in India)

5. If they are ready to claim their 3rd party insurance, check their insurance copy to ensure that its up-to-date and not expired. Also remember to ensure the person who drove the other car has a valid license, otherwise he/she may not be able to claim even 3rd party insurance. 

6. In the worst case scenario, if things are not going fine. Please make sure you take enough photographs and videos of the accident and call the traffic police immediately. 

Also you should understand that Traffic Police officers that we see on the road are responsible for traffic regulation only. If you go to them, in most cases they will try to settle it immediately through a discussion. When there is a case of accident and both sides are not accepting the mistake, that requires an investigation, that will be undertaken by regional Traffic Investigation Team who are reachable by phone as well when an incident occurs. You may raise a complaint by calling them immediately with all the details of accident, they will investigate the case and take action appropriately. The photographs and videos that you take initially will help you strengthen your part too. Also they can check the nearest CCTV footage if required. 

Adding the Traffic Investigation Team Numbers of some of the cities, you may contact the local police station to get the traffic investigation team number.

Chennai - 044 23452593

Coimbatore - 0422 2304880

Bangalore - 22943663

Delhi - 25844444/1095