Dwayne’s Accident Procedure Guide!

24 Hour Emergency Phone Numbers

Even in minor accidents people are in shock and can be very upset. Try to stay as calm as possible.
Turn off your engine.
Turn on your Hazard Flashers if there are no fuel leaks.
Do you have a safety vest in the car? …put it on now!
Are there injuries or fuel leaks? Call 911 as quickly as possible! Do not smoke, light a match or put flares out if there is a fuel leak. If possible, do not move an injured person.

If you have a flashlight (with a safety cone attachment), warning flares (if safe to do so) or a triangle, use them to warn other motorists…Always think of the safety of yourself and your passengers first.

Is there an independent witness?.... Talk to that person NOW!
Get their contact information before they leave the scene. A credible witness is especially valuable for accidents involving left turns at a stoplight and in situations where you think you were side swiped.

Write down the license plate numbers of the other cars involved in the accident. Sometimes people leave the scene immediately. If that happens, a license plate number is extremely helpful!

In Ontario, you must call the police if:
- The combined damage to all vehicles & property is over $1,000 – even if the accident occurs on private property…. Or if…..

- There is any injury or death or Damage to private, municipal or highway property or vehicles or Involvement with a bicyclist or pedestrian or Criminal activity such as driver impairment, uninsured or stolen vehicle or license suspension or Hazardous goods transportation.

If in doubt about whether or not to report the accident, I recommend you to call the police or a Collision Reporting Centre (CRC). View www.accsupport.com –see Reporting Centers tab- for more information about CRC’s and reporting accidents! You can also google the name of the closest city and police department and call them directly or call 911and they will transfer your call. The police will then advise you if they can attend personally or if you should go to a CRC.

Ask the police the following questions:
What should you do next?
Confirm that the police will arrange for a tow truck and/or ambulance-if needed?
Ask them which firm’s tow truck will be coming to the accident scene.
If your vehicle is movable, can you move it and where should it be moved to?
A tow truck could arrive at the scene before you call the police. Don’t let them do anything until you talk to the police.
If the police are not going to attend in person they will direct you to the nearest CRC. Strongly encourage everyone involved in the accident to go to the same CRC right away.

Don’t admit guilt or fault or get involved in any arguments. Don’t say that you aren’t injured until you see a doctor.

DO NOT SIGN ANY AGREEMENTS from other people in the accident or from tow truck drivers concerning repairs or car rentals. You may have to sign an authorization to allow the tow truck operator to tow your vehicle. Read it carefully before you sign it. If you don’t like what it says then speak to the police or call another tow truck operator. Once the vehicle has been towed to a storage location do not authorize a second tow until you speak with the insurance company adjuster who will guide you through the claim process. The adjuster will contact you after your claim is reported to us or is reported directly to your insurer.

If you can do so safely, take pictures of the following: the overall accident scene before vehicles are moved, exterior damage to vehicles and the interior (front dashboard area) of the vehicle(s). Sometimes proof of the fact that airbags did not inflate can be helpful later on!

Here is why! Some people are creating accidents on purpose so that they can defraud insurers and sue you as well. For example … the car in front of you jams on the brakes for no reason and you rear end it. Guess what? You are at fault…and you could be sued! After the accident they could allege that additional passengers were in the vehicle and that their air bags went off in order to defraud an insurer and sue you!

Exchange information for all accidents. No exceptions!

If someone won’t give you their insurance information, then take a picture of the damage to their car and their license plate or write down the make and model and license plate number BEFORE they drive away. Then do not leave the scene and call the police immediately. If they are caught, they will be charged with Failure to Remain at the Scene of an Accident. This charge is very serious.

If your vehicle is not driveable, then where should it be towed? You have some options…

Don’t ever let a tow truck driver pressure you to take it to a body shop of their choice. Don’t ever respond to offers of anyone offering to pay your insurance deductible. Remove all personal contents from the car including the vehicle ownership and your garage door opener. Only provide the vehicle keys to the tow truck driver – remove all other keys.

If police come to the scene, they may instruct the tow truck driver to take the vehicle to a police approved storage area.
If you are out of town this is a good choice. After the claim is reported to your insurance company, your body shop can pick up the vehicle later. If the police attend, you also have a few other options. If you are not far from home, you can also ask that the vehicle be towed to a collision repair firm of your choice or to your residence.

If police do not come and your vehicle can not be driven it must be towed to a CRC. Ask the police for instructions.

If you need to rent a car right away, go to a reputable car rental firm. You can discuss possible coverage of the rental vehicle with the insurance company adjuster as soon as they contact you.

You will need to report the accident to us as well. You can leave a message about your accident on extension 10. All accidents involving a pedestrian, cyclist or another vehicle which has occupants in it must be reported to the insurance company. Based on many years of experience, I don’t recommend that you try to settle an accident claim yourself.

If you are charged with a Criminal Code Offense, you should not discuss the situation further with the police until you call a lawyer of your choice. The police can also arrange for a duty counsel (lawyer) to speak to you.