What you should do in case of a car accident

In case of an accident, you need to take a number of steps that will insure the safety of those around you, keep your actions within the law and start the process of reviewing the insurance claim.

Step 1. Help the victims

Examine yourself and others for injuries.

If someone is injured as a result of an accident CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES AT 112 or ask somebody else to do it.

If you know how to give first aid to the injured do it yourself or find someone who is able to help.

Do not move the victims as they may have serious fractures, and try to stop bleeding using a bandage or lumpy cloth.

If you yourself are seriously injured try not to move and wait for the ambulance.

Never leave the person you hit. This is a grave criminal offense.

Step 2. Keep calm

Think rationally, stay calm and avoid any arguments.  

Remember that verbal abuse is classified as an administrative offense punishable by a fine. Moreover, in Cyprus insult can also be classified as a criminal offense.

Do not discuss the issue of fault in an accident with other participants in the accident. After sending a request to the insurance, its inspector will determine the guilt of the parties based on the inspection of the damaged cars or other property, having studied the information provided by the participants in the accident and related documentation (police reports, photos from the scene, etc.).

Step 3. Dial the phone number of the Road Service (Road Assistance Service) and report the road accident

The Road Service phone number is on your insurance policy and/or information sheet you received from your insurance company.

By calling the Road Service:

1) Notify the Road Service personnel with:

• Your name, insurance number, and your vehicle number.
• Describe the road accident and provide the address (landmarks) of the accident site.

2) Follow all the instructions received by phone from the Road Service personnel.

3) Wait for the arrival of the Road Service personnel and the inspector of your insurance company.

After the call to the Road Service the Service specialist will promptly advise you on the correct procedure:

1. Call the police.
2. Write down all the information necessary for the police investigation, like the names of the witnesses to the accident and license plates of the cars.
3. Take pictures of the vehicles involved in the accident.
4. Fill in the Car Accident Report (Road Accident Protocol) and the Settlement Agreement (if any).
5. Send the Car Accident Report (Road Accident Protocol) and the Settlement Agreement to your insurance company.

Step 4. Call the police at 112

You are not required to call the police, but in the event of a casualty or serious injury or damage, we strongly recommend you do so.

The police officers who arrive at the call will draw up a report and document the scene of the accident.

If the police are unable to travel to the scene of the accident you can go to the nearest police station and file a report.

When you send your claim for the compensation (insurance claim) to your insurance company they may ask you for a copy of the police report to facilitate the process of handling your case.

When the police arrive at your scene be sure to write down their full names and the police department information for future reference.

Step 5. Move to a safe place

This step, depending on the situation, maybe one of the first or the last in the event of an accident.

If you are able to move, move to the side of the road or onto the sidewalk.

If your vehicle poses a hazard in the area where it is after the accident, drive it to the side of the road, provided it is safe for you and those around you.

If not, then leave it in place and go to a safe place.

If the vehicles involved in the accident will be moved for safety reasons, before moving, it is necessary to take photographs of the accident scene in order to allow the experts to recreate the picture of the accident.

Step 6. Wait for help

Switch off the engine, turn on the hazard lights and turn on the warning lights from your car emergency kit to warn the passing vehicles of the accident and slow them down.

Step 7. Exchange the information

After making sure that none of the passengers were injured, exchange contacts and insurance information with the rest of the drivers involved in the accident:

1. Name, surname, contact information (phone, email, address).
2. Insurance company and insurance policy number.
3. Driver’s license and registration number, as well as the type, color and model of the vehicle.

Record the names and telephone numbers of all the witnesses to the accident and the license plates of the vehicles leaving the scene of the accident, even if they were not directly involved in the accident.

Step 8. Document the accident

Fill in the Car Accident Report.

Identify all the participants and witnesses of the accident (names, phone numbers, address), as well as arriving police officers (write down the names and numbers of their tokens).

Take photos of the crash site from all the possible angles so that you can see the damage to all the parties. Also, take a photo of the license plates of all the vehicles involved in the accident.

Obtain and keep a copy of the Police Accident Report.

Attention!

If you haven’t called the Road Service, report the accident to your insurance company.

You must report an accident to your insurance company within 3 working days and fill in the Car Accident Report (Road Accident Protocol).

A company specialist will inform you about all formal procedures. Fill out all the forms that you receive at your insurance company office.

The damage to your vehicle will be assessed by an expert. Before starting the repair, make sure that the auto repair shop and the expert appraiser are consistent with the cost of the restoration work.

For information on what steps to take to file an insurance claim and receive compensation from the insurance company, read our article Claims procedure in case of a car accident.