If you’ve been involved in a minor car accident, where no one involved, got insured. You can get the case number, needed for insurance purposes, online. No need for you to physically go into a police station.
According to the motor finance company Wesbank, reporting a minor accident is now an easier and a less daunting experience than it previously was as motorists can now report minor accidents and obtain a case number online and free of charge via a legally binding system on the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) website.
The new system completely removes the admin of having to physically go into a police station, tediously filling out forms. It generates an automated crash report number that can be used for insurance purposes.
Please take the following into consideration:
- Drivers need to report the accident within 24 hours or the next working day
- If anyone involved in the accident was hurt, you need to report the accident at your nearest police station.
- Take note: Major accidents (if any party was injured, killed, involved in a hit-and-run or if the accident involved more than five cars) cannot be reported on this platform
When an accident occurs:
- Stay calm. It doesn’t matter who’s at fault, stay calm and focus on what to do next
- Should you have any passengers in the car, check to see if anyone is hurt. Keep in mind, not all injuries are visible.
- Document everything you see: the position of the cars involved, the damage on both cars etc.
- Exchange important information with the other driver:
- Home, cell and/or business phone numbers
- Physical address
- Email address
- Car registration numbers
- Description of the car(s) involved (make, model, colour etc)
- Driver’s insurance information
- Remember to also take note of what happened immediately before and after the accident. For example, where any of the drivers under the influence of alcohol, talking on their mobile phones or driving too fast
Have you been involved in a MINOR car accident? Click here to report the crash online.
IF you are not sure if your accident qualifies for this option or if you are worried that it might complicate your claims process, please consult with your broker on the matter!
Business Tech. (2020, March 22). Here’s what to do if you get into a car accident in South Africa. Retrieved from https://businesstech.co.za/news/motoring/379703/heres-what-to-do-if-you-get-into-a-car-accident-in-south-africa
*The car in the featured image (Image source: Unsplash) is not considered as a minor accident 🙂